Insurers for Oregon Homeowners to Pay in Settlement of Tree Cutting Case

Two Gresham, Ore. couples have agreed to pay $135,000 to settle a lawsuit accusing them of cutting down or damaging dozens of protected trees to improve the views from their homes.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported court documents released this week show insurance companies for David and Alyce Hadeed El-Khal are paying $125,000 of the settlement. The remaining $10,000 is being covered by the El-Khal’s neighbors, Stephen and Judith Brugh.

Oregon’s regional planning agency Metro sued the couples in March. Metro claimed they cut down 44 trees in a protected nature area near their homes perched atop Gresham Butte to enhance their views of the city below.

The El-Khals previously said they only cut two or three trees that were “worthless, dead and decayed.” The Brughs had only admitted to de-limbing four trees.