In August 2016, Raymond Mazzarella was fed up with the tree in his neighbor’s yard in Pittston Township, Pennsylvania, as it was continuously dripping sap onto his car parked in his driveway.
Mr. Mazzarella’s solution? Grab his chainsaw, cut through the 36-inch-wide trunk of the tree, and topple it to the ground. Unfortunately, planning (or projecting) ahead was not in his thoughts at the time, and the tree fell directly onto his own small apartment house, dispossessing five tenants and, ultimately, forcing inspectors to condemn the entire building. (Source: WNEP-TV)
Three thoughts come to mind. The first concerns Mr. Mazzarella’s foresight, or lack thereof. The second would be that this is a perfect example of why you need to maintain in-force insurance on your property. And finally, although the story has an element of humor in it, chances are good that Mr. Mazzarella’s careless actions gave birth to a lawsuit against him.
The Harris Firm’s attorneys are familiar with all types of homeowner’s insurance problems that arise as a result of unexpected circumstances. If you have a homeowner’s problem in any area, we may be able to help.
