Tree-Sitter Lawsuits Against Maxxam/Pacific Lumber Multiply

Eureka, CA - Two more tree-sitters who had been forcibly removed from threatened ancient redwoods in Northern California have filed lawsuits against Maxxam Corporation, Pacific Lumber, and the men hired to seize them high above the ground. Amy Gershman and Jamie Kohler joined fellow tree-sitters Jeny Card, Lindsey Holm, Kristi Sanchez, Scott Petersen and Anna Farnam in filing counter suits January 14, 2005 related to the string of tree-sit evictions that occurred in the forested hills above the tiny hamlet of Freshwater, California in the spring of 2003.

The seven tree-sitters, along with more than twenty other local residents and protestors were slapped with a lawsuit by PL that charged trespass and conspiracy. A SLAPP suit is a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. The activists' counter suits include allegations of assault, battery, negligence, infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, and violation of their civil rights.

Unlike most of the other redwood giants formerly occupied by activists to protect them, the trees Gershman and Kohler sat in are still standing. Kohler was the third tree-sitter to be evicted from the ancient redwood known as “Jerry,” from which Card (better known as marathon tree-sitter “Remedy”) and Sanchez were also removed. Gershman, another long term tree-sitter whose feet didn’t touch the ground for seven months, was removed from a giant redwood dubbed “Everlasting Life.” The two trees are still occupied by tree-sitters on tiny tree-top platforms. Maxxam/PL still intends to have the trees cut down.

The SLAPP suit is on hold following a move by attorneys for the PL-hired extractors that disqualified Judge W. Bruce Watson. Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Dale Reinholtsen will rule soon on whether the disqualification was legal, and determine whether he or Judge Watson will take on the case. ##