Fed government sues attorney/rancher Gentner Drummond over destruction of 40,000 trees on Corps land

The federal government is suing Tulsa attorney Gentner Drummond, his Drummond Ranch LLC, and two companies hired to apply herbicides to lands near Birch and Skiatook lakes for the loss of more than 40,000 trees on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property near the lakes.

On behalf of the Corps of Engineers, the government filed suit in federal court on Feb. 8, claiming violation of Oklahoma state law governing “damages for wrongful injuries to timber,” trespass, and violations of rules and regulations governing public use of Corps property.

The government seeks compensation for the destruction of the trees, compensatory damages for “injuries to timbers,” compensatory damages for trespass and destruction, an injunction preventing any further damage and court costs.

Drummond, who ran for state attorney general in 2018, characterized the conflict as a disagreement between neighbors and objected to the Corps’ characterization of what has happened.

Read more: https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/federal-government-sues-attorney-rancher-gentner-drummond-over-destruction-of/article_829c55de-48f7-5330-addb-7bb91b3d3ade.html