Tree Service Trespassed On My Property To Access A Neighbor’s Yard, Seeking Advice.

Location: Pennsylvania

I want to start by stating that I have no legal expertise. I really just want to seek any advice to point me in a direction to go in regarding my issue and if it’s even worth pursuing.

I recently had a run in with a tree service that I was looking to seek legal action against. I came home from work one day to notice my neighbor to the rear of my property was getting a large branch that had fallen months ago in a storm removed. This was around 4:45. Around 5:30 I began to cut my lawn, starting in the front of my property and making my way to the side yard (which butts up against a school field with a steep drainage ditch about 15 feet off of my driveway) to notice that the grass appeared to me matted and ripped up in places, as though a large vehicle had gone over it. I thought this was odd and seeing the large equipment used by the tree service, I thought to look into the issue after I had finished my yard work.

Around 6:15 when I was about halfway through cutting the rear of my property, I emerged from a small nook between my fence and my home’s addition to see the large vehicle with a wood-chipper trailer parked in my side yard with the operator yelling something and waving my over. I stopped what I was doing, admittedly a little annoyed, to see what the issue was. The first thing I asked was “who gave you permission to be on my land, this is private property and you’re trespassing.” The operator explained that my truck had them parked in, and they needed to leave, to which I again asked who allowed them to use this property. They stated that the only way into the yard of my neighbor was through my side yard, adding that the drainage ditch was too steep to use and could flip their vehicle.

At this point I was well beyond agitated, and decided the easiest course of action would simply be to move my truck to let them leave, minimizing any damage to my property and assessing any damage they caused after.

After they had left, I found the end of my driveway which had admittedly been in poor condition prior, had several chunks of asphalt dislodged and broken off. My side yard had several torn up patches of grass from the vehicle. The rear of my property that had a post to mark property lines that had been ran over. Lastly they had fully run over one of my trash cans that I use for leaf litter.

I took pictures of all of these damages immediately. Instead of calling the number on the side of the truck then, I decided I would follow up in the morning with a clear head as not to come across as hostile or aggressive.

When I called around 9:30 the next day, it was the operator of the truck. I stated the damages they caused saying “I just want you guys to fix the damages you caused to make it right.” I was promptly laughed at and told that there was no way they caused that much damage, and offered to replace the trash can. I again asked who they got permission from to use my property and was told that they had permission to use it before hanging up on me, and blocking my number.

At this point I called the non emergency police line, and filed a report to have on file in case things got worse. I figured it was better to be safe.

The next morning (a Saturday) I woke up around 8:30 to seeing a missed call from the same number. I later followed up and called back, assuming maybe they had an office/owner who was trying to resolve the issues caused by one bad employee. It was the same individual as before.

I immediately heard the iPhone “call is being recorded” message and started that I did not consent to being recorded. The individual explained that they were not recording, and I shortly heard the message that the call was no longer being recorded.

He began by asking to whom he was speaking to, followed by stating that he had gotten a report that I filed a complaint about a damaged trash can. I stated that I also reported several other damages, and again asked who had given them permission to use my property to access my neighbor’s yard. I was told that I was acting like a dick, and I again asked plainly to know who had given them permission to use my property. To this I was told that they had permission from the owner, and that I was just a scumbag who wanted to get free stuff from them, and to “grow the fuck up, this is the real world.”

At this point, I guess I’m looking to see if a civil suit is even worth pursuing. I dont even know really if I have grounds for a case and as stupid as it is, I feel absolutely gaslit by this individual throughout our interactions.

I worry thinking about what would have happen if, god forbid, they did roll their vehicle off of my property or had been injured.

Anything helps. Thank you.