RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - A Pennington County jury says the city
of Rapid City owes a local couple more than $125,000 for the loss
of 42 pine trees that experts say were killed by salt used to
de-ice a neighboring street.
A jury last week awarded Conrad and Leone Rupert $126,530 for the
removal, clean-up and replacement of the trees. A local arborist
valued each tree at $2,400.
Seventh Circuit Judge Janine Kern earlier found that the city
de-icing practices were responsible for the damage and the
resulting loss of the trees.
Interim city attorney Tamara Pier said the city must salt the
streets to control snow and ice, and federal law prohibits using
sand.
A lawyer for the couple declined to comment.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-10-28-11 0526EDT
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