Cutting Down Town-Owned Trees Costs Southbury Couple $600K: Judge

SOUTHBURY, CT — A judge has ordered a local couple to pay nearly $600,000 in damages for the 2017 cutting of trees on town-owned property.

The town of Southbury filed a lawsuit in 2019 against Alan and Teresa Salzman, of 216 Kuhne Rd.

The lawsuit claimed the Salzmans ordered the tree cutting on neighboring town-owned open space to improve their view of Lake Lillinonah.

In a ruling dated April 17, Superior Court Judge Joseph Pellegrino sided with Southbury in the dispute. He ordered the couple to pay $99,746 toward restoration, which would cover the planting of small new trees on the property, plus an additional $498,730 in damages, for a total of $598.476. The couple must also pay for the town’s attorney costs.

According to the lawsuit, Alan Salzman engaged and paid the contractors, and initially directed their efforts, then left to go to his law office in New York City. Teresa Salzman remained at home and “continued to direct” the contractors’ activities, the lawsuit claims.

About 59 trees were cut down and more than 100 were damaged, court documents show. The lawsuit claims some of the trees impacted were more than 100 years old.

During a trial, Alan Salzman testified that he was leaving his house one morning when he encountered men who said they were tree cutters looking for work, court documents show.

Alan Salzman testified that he went and got about $300 cash for them to do some cutting on a small area of his land. He reported that he continued on his way to work, and later called his wife, who said the contractors had left.

According to Alan Salzman, he didn’t know the contractors had cut down trees on the town’s property until about three weeks later.

In the ruling, Pellegrino concluded Alan Salzman admitted hiring men to do tree work, then failed to supervise them, and as a result, there was damage to trees on town property.

According to Pellegrino, he finds it “hard to believe” Teresa Salzman, who remained at home, didn’t hear the cutting of 59 trees. The judge noted she did nothing to stop it.

Pellegrino concluded the couple encroached on the town of Southbury’s property without permission and caused “substantial” damage. Pellegrino wrote in the ruling he believes the damage was “intentional.”

“The cutting was almost a football field in width,” Pellegrino wrote, noting that the work extended to the lake. “The court finds it incredible that this cutting was just happenstance done by day laborers with no guidance.”

Southbury First Selectman Jeffrey Manville said via email Tuesday, “I am encouraged that the suit was successful and sends a message that there are punitive damages for violating public property.”

Attorneys representing the town and the Salzmans did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the judge’s decision.

Alan Salzman, reached by telephone Tuesday, said of the ruling, “I fully respect the court’s determination and will follow it to the fullest extent of the law.”