A Southwest Portland family is facing off with City Hall in court after a 150-foot Douglas fir came crashing down in the January 2024 ice storm, crushed their home, and narrowly missed their 6-year-old. The Bonds are suing the City of Portland for $4.8 million, arguing that city inspectors ignored clear signs of decay and wrongly denied their request to remove the tree. The city disputes that, saying its inspector believed the towering fir looked healthy at the time.
Arborists Say Red Flags Were There For Years
At Multnomah County Circuit Court, certified arborist David Hunter walked jurors through photographs that have been entered into evidence, testifying that they showed long-standing rot and woodpecker activity that should have triggered a deeper evaluation of the tree. Consulting arborist Casey Johnson told the jury that the tree’s base was extensively decayed and that visible defects would have led him to order a more thorough inspection.
Under cross-examination, Hunter acknowledged that the ice and snow during the January 2024 storm likely played a role in the failure. Those details were reported by OregonLive.
Storm, Splintered Roof, And A Denied Permit
The Douglas fir fell on the Bonds’ Southwest Portland house during the January 2024 ice storm, leaving the structure uninhabitable but sparing the family. A branch punched through the upstairs bathroom ceiling near the family’s 6-year-old, but everyone inside survived, as reported by OPB.
The Bonds say this was not a freak accident they could not see coming. They first applied in late 2021 for permission to remove the tree, only to have that request denied in 2022, according to coverage by Willamette Week.
City Denies Negligence As Former Forestry Boss Exits Case
In their lawsuit, the Bonds argue that Urban Forestry inspectors failed to recognize indicators that the tree was unsafe and that the city wrongly refused removal. They are seeking $4.8 million in damages from the city…