Jeremy Rappoport, Arboriculture Expert Witness

As biologic organisms, all trees follow the same pattern; they germinate, grow, mature, decline and eventually die. Throughout their life cycle, they may exhibit varied physical alterations such as limb attachment, leaning, cracks, root problems and decay.

Trees are a desired part of our urban landscape, appearing in parks, as street trees in medians and parkways, in private and public gardens and landscapes, golf courses, and opens spaces. In all of these areas, people and property are constantly exposed to the potential risk of a tree or tree part failure.

Tree risk assessment is a technical process requiring a skilled, knowledgeable, experienced professional arborist. A thorough tree risk assessment will help minimize the potential risk of injury or loss of property. A forensic tree evaluation may help determine the cause of failure.

As an Arboriculture Expert, Jeremy will:

• Review and evaluate case documents provided by the client.
• Provide tree hazard and risk assessment report for tree(s) involved in the case.
• Develop tree appraisal and value based on replacement cost, income production, or trunk size approach.
• Provide field inspection, photographic documentation, and subsequent report.
• Investigate the tree(s) cultural, maintenance and suitability requirements for the given site and relationship to the accident.
• Analyze the macro urban forest environment and micro tree environmental, historical, construction records surrounding the site accident.
• Consider changes in tree structure due to natural or result from construction damage, hydrology, altered stand or other development patterns.
• Develop an impartial arboriculture expert opinion based on complete analysis of all documents, reports, inspections, and testing results.
• Assist the Client's technical understanding of arboriculture science.
• Explain the strength and weaknesses of opposing counsel.

Like earthquakes, a tree failure cannot always be predicted in advance, yet we know eventually all trees fail. From a risk perspective, if there is not a nearby target, then a tree failure does not pose a risk. In the urban environment, most of the landscape is in close proximity to people and property. By using a certified consulting arborist, the potential risk of failure may be reduced or eliminated. If a failure has occurred that caused property damage and or personal injury, a certified arborist can provide a forensic evaluation and help determine the cause of the failure.

Jeremy Rappoport is a certified consulting arborist, #WE-9083A and a member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). He is a member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) and Professional Tree Care Association of San Diego (PTCA).

Jeremy has worked with trees in the landscape for decades, providing tree health and tree risk assessments and tree appraisals for property owners, legal and insurance professionals.

Call Jeremy Rappoport today at 858-205-4748.