A New Jersey homeowner is taking legal action against her city and state after a majestic 150-year-old oak tree on her property was torn down, in what she asserts was an illegal move. Lenora Pascuzzo, a resident of Hackensack, a suburb outside of New York City, has filed a lawsuit alleging a tree surgeon crossed over onto her property and chopped down the beautiful landmark. The lawsuit alleges that on August 12 2025, a contractor landscaping a neighboring school crossed a'visible property boundary and fence line'40 feet into Pascuzzo's property and cut down the 'unique, irreplaceable, and historically significant oak tree.'
'In a matter of hours, Defendants destroyed what nature required approximately one hundred fifty years to create,' the lawsuit stated. Several city and state agencies, the Fanny Meyer Hillers School and Rich Tree Service are named as defendants in the suit. The tree was estimated to be 80 feet tall.
Pascuzzo's lawyers claim that no commercially available tree can compare. In addition to impacting the exterior aesthetics of the house, the lawsuit alleges that it has also exposed portions of the home to weather conditions and will increase cooling costs. Pascuzzo's lawyers have also argued that the tree had air-quality benefits, provided temperature moderation and supported wildlife in the community.
A New Jersey woman has claimed that a beautiful oak tree was wrongfully cut down on her property Lenora Pascuzzo's lawyers have alleged that a contractor crossed a'visible property boundary and fence line'to chop the tree The lawsuit has asserted that the oak tree provided many benefits to the home, including shade that decreased energy bills, an aesthetic appeal and privacy Her attorney, Christopher Karounos, informed the Daily Mail in an official statement that this case was about'far more than the loss of a tree. 'It is about respecting private property and holding public entities accountable when they fail to do so.' 'The law doesn't give anyone—especially the government—the right to trespass first and ask questions later,'he continued.'
Before destroying something that took a century and a half to grow, the least anyone should do is make sure it belongs to them.' Karounos has argued that the case demonstrates the importance of property rights and accused the Hackensack city government of violating Pascuzzo's rights. 'You cannot simply replace a tree like this with a new sapling.
It provided shade, privacy, beauty, environmental benefits, and was a defining feature of our client's home,'Karounos stated. The lawsuit asserts trespassing, destruction of real property interests, negligence and reckless disregard. The lawsuit alleges that without the tree, Pascuzzo's home has lost its aesthetic appeal and property value Pascuzzo's legal team believe that the tree was about 150 years old and 80 feet tall The lawsuit alleges that the massive tree was cut down when contractors were landscaping at Fanny Meyer Hillers School, pictured above Pascuzzo is seeking damages for loss in property value, restoration, replacement and loss of environmental benefits.
The Fanny Meyer Hillers School is located next to Pascuzzo's home. Satellite images show shrubbery separating her property from the elementary school. Mayor Caseen Gaines told the Daily Mail in a statement that the city 'did not have any municipal employees doing tree maintenance during or around the time and location alleged in the lawsuit.'
However, the Hackensack School Board President Jennifer Harris pledged to find the responsible party and stated the lawsuit was being handled by its insurance carrier. The school“Will pursue all appropriate claims against the party responsible for the removal of the subject tree,”Harris stated. The Daily Mail has reached out to Wealthy Tree Service and Fanny Meyer Hillers School for comment.