Understanding Timber Damage Liability Exceptions in Oklahoma
Hello, I’m Oklahoma City criminal defense attorney Dillan Savage of Wirth Law Office, and I practice primarily in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area.
Previously, I made another video discussing how individuals who enter your land and damage your timber can be held both criminally and civilly liable. In some cases, these individuals may be found guilty of a felony or misdemeanor and may also be required to compensate you for the damages they caused.
Exceptions to Timber Damage Liability
However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. If you’d like to see the full language of the statute, you can refer to Title 2, Section 16-60. But in this video, I’ll give a broad overview of the individuals who cannot be held criminally liable for trimming or removing timber under certain circumstances.
Public Utilities and State Officials
As you may already know, boundary lines on private property can affect power lines or other public utilities. In such cases, state officials and public utility employees have the authority to enter your property to trim or remove timber if necessary to prevent damage to these utilities.
Additionally, if pipelines, power lines, or utility lines run through your land, public service corporations and state entities are permitted to enter your property for:
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- Trimming and removing timber
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- Performing repairs and maintenance
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- Allowing construction of new utility infrastructure
Public Surveyors
Public surveyors may also need to remove or trim timber while conducting official surveys. Provided that all procedures are followed properly, they cannot be held criminally liable for performing these duties.
However, if their actions are negligent, you may still be able to pursue a civil claim. But when done correctly and within the scope of their duties, these individuals are protected under the law.
Get Legal Assistance Today
If you found this video to be helpful or believe it could help someone else, please visit TheOklahomaCityAttorney.com. My name is Dillan Savage, and I’m the Oklahoma City felony defense law attorney with Wirth Law Office. If you need further assistance regarding timber removal rights or related legal matters, don’t hesitate to reach out for a low-cost consultation. Call us at 405-888-5400. Thank you for watching.
