Group Files Appeal in Oak Removal

A Santa Clarita environmental group on Monday appealed the dismissal of its lawsuit against the developer that had planned to cut down a beloved suburban oak tree, sparking a 71-day protest by a seasoned tree-sitter.

Lynne Plambeck, president of Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment, said that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John P. Shook erroneously dismissed the group’s fraud and breach-of-contract case against John Laing Homes on Nov. 24.

“He never even heard the case,” Plambeck said.

The group’s lawsuit alleges that Laing Homes broke a 1999 promise to save the tree near one of Laing’s developments west of Santa Clarita.

Laing officials contended that the tree on Pico Canyon Road stood in the way of a road-widening project mandated by Los Angeles County. The company had planned to cut down the tree but opted to move it after activist John Quigley climbed into its branches in November, attracting nationwide media attention.

Laing filed a countersuit, accusing the group of trespassing and defamation, but Shook also dismissed that case earlier this month.

The environmental group maintains that moving the giant 400-year-old oak will kill it.

“If they move the tree, they’re still not abiding by the agreement,” Plambeck said.

Bill Rattazzi of Laing Homes said he could not comment on the appeal because he had not seen it.