kentfallingtree_bk.jpg
Bon Dao is worried three trees in a vacant lot behind his property will fall onto his home. (Brandi Kruse Photo/KIRO Radio)

Nothing city can do about trees endangering Kent family

BY Brandi Kruse  on January 17, 2013 @ 9:58 am (Updated: 11:46 am - 1/17/13 )

In the middle of the night, Bon Dao was awoken by a loud noise.

It was around 4 a.m. when he went downstairs to investigate and discovered that the wind had blown a massive tree onto his home. Moments later, another one crashed to the ground.

When the sun came up he surveyed the damage. The trees tore down his fence, ripped into his siding and put a dent in his roof.

While one of the trees fell from his neighbor's yard, another came from a vacant lot adjacent to his property. Overgrown with bushes and littered with trash, the lot is an eyesore in the Kent neighborhood, which is full of well-kept, beautiful homes.

Dao, a father of two young children, set out to find the owner of the parcel as three more trees on the property are dead and in danger of falling as well.

"I'm scared, I'm very scared," he said. "My family cannot sleep at night."

But Dao has been unable to locate the owner of the property and the city of Kent said there is nothing they can do to help him. Because the lot is privately owned, the city is unable to cut the trees down.

"They cannot do anything and I cannot do anything either," he said.

David Galazin, an assistant Kent city attorney, said the only legal option for Dao is to take the owner of the parcel to court or ask for the right to remove the trees due to the imminent danger to his family.

"The neighbor cannot go onto the property, the city cannot go onto the property," Galazin said. "The constitution really is designed to protect the property interests of landowners, homeowners, and to prevent government intrusion."

Galazin said Dao could face a lawsuit if he were to cut the trees down without permission from the owner.

According to county records, the vacant lot is owned by a company called Dreamworks Construction. However, phone numbers for the business are no longer in service and addresses in Renton, Newcastle and Magnolia once associated with the company are dead ends, including an address where the company is registered for property tax purposes. Certified mail sent to the last known address for the business was returned.

Dao is concerned the trees will fall before he can get a court order to have them removed.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (14)


  • Add A Comment

  • dori monson fan wrote...
    call john olerud
    January 17, 2013 9:28 am
    he should have some helpful advice.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ssbn629g wrote...
    Propery taxes
    January 17, 2013 9:50 am
    What mailing address does the county use for property tax notices? Are property taxes delinquent? Call a title company for a property profile and any documents and liens recorded against property. If the property owner owed the city or county money, I bet something could be done. Poor old' John Q. Public is once again on his own.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ToldYa wrote...
    If its a private matter
    January 17, 2013 9:56 am
    go over and cut them down. Its then up to the missing property owner to file a complaint or take legal action. The police can't arrest him for cutting them down if there is no complaint.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Go to court
    January 17, 2013 10:36 am
    and get a ruling in abstentia
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    Just Because Your Neighbors Trees Scare You
    January 17, 2013 10:43 am
    Does not give you the right to have them removed unless they pose a specific danger like being dead or leaning over.

    It matters not whether trees have come down before.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • nursejamesrn wrote...
    Trees
    January 17, 2013 11:18 am
    Call Jessie Jones ;-)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Matt Lattanzi wrote...
    ?
    January 17, 2013 12:43 pm
    Is this news?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    This is...
    January 17, 2013 4:44 pm
    NOT a news site.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    Www.manta.com says that Dreamworks Construction Inc. in Renton, WA
    January 17, 2013 12:50 pm
    Is owned by Scott Finch and lists a number: (425) 254-9891

    A little more research and mylife.com indicates that Scott Finch is married to Savitha Gowda Finch and they live(d) at : 6457 SE Lake Washington Boulevard in Renton

    http://www.city-data.com/king-county/S/SE-Lake-Washington-Boulevard-23.html#prop_563697

    Although www.blockshopper.com indicates they listed it for sale in 2010. http://www.123people.com/ext/frm?ti=person%20finder&search_term=savitha%20finch&search_country=US&st=person%20finder&target_url=aHR0cDovL3NlYXR0bGUuYmxvY2tzaG9wcGVyLmNvbS9uZXdzL3N0b3J5LzcwMDEwMDgxMy1Cb2VpbmdfQ29tbWVyY2lhbF9leGVjX3NlbGxzX05ld2Nhc3RsZV80QkQ%3D

    And zillow says it sold for 900k in 2011 http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6457-Lake-Washington-Blvd-SE-Newcastle-WA-98056/48865445_zpid/

    123people.com indicates Scott and Savitha finch have been involved with several properties and the addresses listed on that site can be used to cross reference the tax records at the city-data site.

    LinkedIn.com indicates that Savitha Gowda (Finch) works at Boeing as a Sales Director and also has a "Scott Finch" who is self-employed in the greater Seattle area dealing in aerospace.

    So I guess Bon Dao could always call Savitha at work.

    Gotta love the Internet.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Is this news? -
    January 17, 2013 3:10 pm
    this is breaking news. must be new to the site. wait till you see the regular news. O Boy are you in for a surprise!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    NOT a news site. -
    January 17, 2013 4:49 pm
    than what is it? Brandi do you guys have beer in the frig? DOT does!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }