$750,000 Lawsuit: Hackensack Schools Accused of Cutting Down Woman’s 120-Year-Old Tree

Elementary School Accused of Cutting Down Landmark

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

HACKENSACK, NJ — A long-standing resident of Hackensack is seeing red after the local school district allegedly cut down a massive, century-old oak tree on her private property—without ever asking for permission.

Lenora Pascuzzo, who has lived in her home next to the Fanny Meyer Hillers Elementary School for two decades, has filed a tort claim notice seeking $750,000 in damages. The notice, a precursor to a formal lawsuit, names both the City of Hackensack and the Board of Education as responsible parties for the unauthorized destruction of her landscape.

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“My Shade is Gone”: The Loss of a 120-Year-Old Landmark

The centerpiece of the dispute is a towering Red Oak, estimated to be 80 feet high and approximately 120 years old. For Pascuzzo, the tree wasn’t just wood and leaves; it was the defining feature of her home.

“It was beautiful. It was huge. It’s sunny in my backyard now. I never had sun; it was my shade. Now it’s gone,” Pascuzzo said in a recent interview.

Pascuzzo was not home on August 12 when the removal took place. She only learned of the incident when a neighbor sent a frantic text asking if she knew a crane crew was currently dismantling her backyard.

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A $9,600 “Mistake” with Heavy Machinery

Public records obtained through an OPRA request reveal the sheer scale of the operation. The Hackensack School District hired Rich Tree Service of South Plainfield for the job. The invoice for the August 12 work shows a massive mobilization of equipment that cost the district $9,600, including:

• A 3-person crew operating for 16 hours.

• A heavy-duty crane and professional crane operator.

• A grapple truck and a bucket truck.

Despite two fences clearly separating the school’s property from Pascuzzo’s yard, the crew spent two days removing “multiple trees” from her property. Pascuzzo expressed bewilderment at how such a large-scale operation could be so “misinformed” regarding property lines.

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The Legal Finger-Pointing: Who is to Blame?

The Hackensack Board of Education isn’t denying the tree was cut; instead, they are shifting the blame to the contractor.

Jason Nunnermacker, the attorney for the school board, stated that the district is considering legal action of its own against the tree service company.

“It’s the district’s position that the district vendor we used… removed the tree and any liability lies with the vendor,” Nunnermacker said.

However, for Pascuzzo, the legal distinction between the district and its vendor matters little. The loss of a century-old tree is permanent, and her $750,000 claim reflects the massive cost of “tree replacement” and the loss of property value associated with mature timber.

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Why “Tree Law” Carries Heavy Penalties

Under New Jersey law, the unauthorized removal of trees can lead to significant financial penalties. Beyond the cost of a new sapling, courts often consider:

1. Restoration Value: The cost to replace a 120-year-old tree with one of similar size (which is often impossible).

2. Treble Damages: In some cases of “timber trespass,” damages can be tripled.

3. Loss of Enjoyment: The environmental and aesthetic impact on the homeowner.

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Incident Snapshot: Hackensack Tree Dispute

Detail	Information
Claimant	Lenora Pascuzzo
Damages Sought	$750,000
Location	Adjacent to Hillers Elementary School
The Tree	80-foot Red Oak (120 years old)
Contractor	Rich Tree Service ($9,600 contract)

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