Timber theft is a problem in Tennessee and Nation wide. Stay tuned, I will be listing items on how to help protect your property from timber theft and what to do when timber theft happens to you. If you have had timber theft on your property call your local Area Forester.
UT Publication on Timber Theft
Another good source on dealing with timber theft is located at the following web page.
© 2014 by The State of Tennessee
All rights reserved
*** Current through the 2013 Regular Session ***
Title 43 Agriculture And Horticulture
Chapter 28 Timber
Part 3 Branding of Timber
Tenn. Code Ann. § 43-28-312 (2013)
43-28-312. Cutting timber from property of another — Civil liability.
(a) (1) Civil liability for the negligent cutting of timber from the property of another is in an amount double that of the current market value of the timber.
(2) If the timber is negligently cut from the property of another because the landowner for whom the timber is being cut has marked or designated the boundary of the landowner’s property incorrectly, then the landowner is jointly liable for the double damages.
(b) Civil liability for knowingly and intentionally cutting timber from the property of another is in an amount treble that of the current market value of the timber.
(c) Nothing in this section precludes an owner of property on which timber has been cut by another from recovering damages for loss of value other than commercial timber value, if any, of the timber negligently or intentionally cut.
(d) “Current market value,” as used in this section, applies to the property in question that is standing timber; therefore, the current market value is that of the timber before being cut.
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