There are some kinds of trees that are notorious for their invasive root systems. It’s likely that this ailanthus “Tree of Heaven” did some damage.
I know that I foolishly let a foreign garbage wild tree grow next to my house for a couple of years. It was pervasive and prolific in its growth. Even after cutting it off at the base, it would sprout new growth immediately. I finally had to get my B&D Black Maxx right angle drill and 18 inch long 1” boring bit and drill three holes in the top of the cut off base. I think poured straight Roundup down the holes and repeated until the whole gallon was gone. That sucker was then Dead Right There.
I think the parents of Tomei are probably using the amount of the suit to make this fool do what he should. At least I hope that’s what they are doing.
Some trees love to be cut down to the roots.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppicing
Had one in our yard as a kid. Had to get rid of it. More huge smelly weed than tree.
You are right; ailanthus are terribly destsructive. They can double their height (and root system) every year for the first several years, and even cutting them down doesn’t get rid of them if there is the tiniest live root still left in the ground. The seeds fly around in cities and take root in the smallest opportunities, like a crack in a pavement or even in crumbling mortar in the side of a brick building. The one on Lennon’s property was probably from a windborne seed, not a conscious planting, and could have attained that height in just a few years, making his disdain for his neighbors’ home damage all the more aggravating.
Most cities that have unattended properties will then have ailanthus (stinkweed) growing up out of window wells through gratings, on the roof out of a pile of decayed leaves blown into a corner near the chimney, and even from the inside of abandoned buildings poking out the windows. They crack foundations and pavements all around, unless property owners are vigilant and aggressive in getting rid of them, which isn’t easy. One tree can produce hundreds of others in no time at all. If you let one take hold on a plot of land, it will soon fill the entire plot and start invading others nearby. Most east coast cities have swaths of them along any recently dug but relatively unattended ground, like the edges of freeways, and have had their old stock of chestnuts, pines and sycamores choked out by ailanthus in run down neighborhoods.
The solution you mentioned (cut down the main trunk, drill holes in the stump and fill the holes with Roundup or gasoline) is the only thing I’ve ever heard of that will kill one.
Unfortunetly, sometimes you have to sue to force action. If his tree is indeed damaging their property and he is not doing anything about it. They may not have any other options.
When I had my own landscaping company we repaired a yard after they had a huge old Willow tree removed. The tree was 75’ from the back of the house. The roots from the tree grew into and plugged up the foundation drain tile all around the houses footings. They had to dig up and replace all the pipe around the circumference of the house 7’ deep.
We came in just to repair the yard after all the heavy equipment left and the tree was gone. I learned a valuable lesson: never plant a Willow tree within 200’ feet of your house.