Tom Butori, owner of Government Lot 6 in Oregon, sued Bosma Enterprises after a 2018 tree‑clearing operation removed trees and shrubs up to 150 feet into his property.
A jury found the trespass willful, awarding him $810,000 in treble damages under state law that triples damages for intentional deforestation.
On appeal, Bosma and his company argued that the trial court had allowed inadmissible testimony and that Bosma was not personally liable. The Court of Appeals rejected all three challenges, noting the evidence showed Bosma directed the work and knew the boundary was disputed.
The court’s April 8 decision preserves the award and confirms that a construction firm’s owner can be personally held responsible for boundary violations. The ruling may influence future disputes over land use in the state.