KILLER TREE A PROBLEM FOR YEARS vs

THE CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS, OF PROBLEMS WITH THE TREE THAT KILLED A NEW YORK WOMAN IN THE BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY RECENTLY. 6 YEARS AGO THE CITY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE TREE'S "POOR" CONDITION, WHEN A POSTGRADUATE STUDENT STUDIED PINE PITCH CANKER IN THE AREA. THAT STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN 1998 WHEN THE TREE WAS GIVEN THE LOWEST HEALTH RANKING. THIS NOVEMBER THE TREE FINALLY GAVE OUT WHEN A SECTION SNAPPED OFF, HITTING AN ELDERLY VISITOR, AND KILLING HER. THE VICTIM'S FAMILY LAWYER HAS NOTIFIED THE CITY, HE PLANS TO FILE A WRONGFUL-DEATH CLAIM. HE SAYS THE CITY HAD AT LEAST THREE YEARS NOTICE THAT THE TREE WAS A HAZARD.