Hopefully they will make him pay for the most expensive tree service in the country to come and plant the tallest trees possible right where these were. Should be able to do it for under $25K a tree. Can pay for the trees, or get a lien on his house.
Stupid should hurt. Badly.
Is the $25K is just for the tree, or does it include moving, crane, loader, labor, and planting?
A company I worked for years ago had nice 30 foot birches up for auction at $25 each but no one wanted them because moving costs would get the price up to $1000 per tree - and that was on level ground with convenient highways and roads.