Nigerian Doctor, Wife Slammed With Nearly $1m Fine Over Illegal Tree Cutting In California

Nigerian Doctor, Wife Slammed With Nearly $1m Fine Over Illegal Tree Cutting In California

A Nigerian-born medical practitioner in the United States, Matthew Bernard, and his wife, Lynn Warner, have been ordered to pay nearly $1 million after authorities in Oakland, California, found them guilty of illegally cutting down dozens of protected trees around their property.

The couple was hit with a massive fine of $915,135.40 following a heated public hearing before the Oakland City Council on Tuesday. The sanction stemmed from the removal of 38 protected trees between 2021 and 2022 on and around their property located on Claremont Avenue in the Oakland Hills area of California.

According to reports by American media outlets including KQED and the San Francisco Chronicle, the trees included mature coast live oaks, buckeyes and broad-leaf maples protected under Oakland’s environmental laws.

Residents in the area strongly opposed the tree removals, insisting the dense canopy played a major role in wildfire prevention, erosion control, environmental stability and public health. During the council hearing, more than 20 community members reportedly urged city officials to strictly enforce the city’s tree preservation regulations.

City authorities said Bernard and Warner failed to obtain the necessary permits before cutting down the trees. Officials also claimed the couple ignored repeated warnings issued by city workers and police officers during the period the trees were being removed.

Investigators further alleged that some of the trees were located on neighbouring properties and city-owned land, escalating the severity of the case.

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Defending their actions, Bernard told the council that the trees were either “dead, dying, leaning,” or in a “hazardous condition.” He maintained that the removals were carried out based on recommendations from a professional arborist and were necessary to reduce wildfire risks around the property.

The couple also disputed the number of trees allegedly removed, arguing that some had already fallen before they acquired the property while others collapsed during storms.

Despite the explanation, Oakland officials rejected the defence and proceeded with the financial penalty, describing the environmental impact as severe and long-lasting.

Community tree specialist Erys Gagnez told the council that replacing trees of such magnitude would take decades, if not centuries.

“Trees of that size are not commercially available for replacement. Even with replanting, it will take decades, even centuries, to restore the ecological and protective functions that were lost,” Gagnez said.

Authorities have also placed a lien on the property, meaning Bernard and Warner may be unable to sell, develop or secure permits for the land until the fine is fully settled.

The development has sparked debate within Oakland’s political circles, with some council members insisting the punishment was necessary to deter environmental violations, while others questioned whether the fine was excessively harsh.

Councilmember Janani Ramachandran defended the sanction, stating that Oakland’s identity and environmental safety depended heavily on preserving its tree population.

However, another council member, Carroll Fife, reportedly questioned whether the enforcement process had been applied fairly, noting concerns about unequal treatment in previous environmental cases.

The case has continued to attract widespread attention online due to the size of the fine and the environmental implications surrounding the illegal removal of protected trees in California.

Nigerian Doctor, Wife Slammed With Nearly $1m Fine Over Illegal Tree Cutting In California