[Rick Lee]

Why would any tree service just cut down someone's tree withhout verifying the person ordering it is also the owner or their representative? Wouldn't they insist on being paid in advance, since they can't exactly undo the work once done?

And I think the idiot neighbor's own homeowner's insurance would cover most of whatever judgement they lost. So the modest rate hike might be worth their trouble, if they really want those trees removed. I'd make sure they knew there would be criminal and not just civil consequences to such actions.

When I lived way out in the sticks in TX, we regularly saw signs that read "Tree cutters will be shot." I think they meant it too.