Of course talk to a lawyer. Some offer the first half-hour free to decide if there's a case. I'd recommend one from a different community because lawyers don't like to sue a profession they get business from. Preferably one who specializes in rural real estate. Real-estate law is relatively standard but rural properties have their own wrinkles. Still, all civil law can be jurisdiction dependent so don't go too far afield.

Happens all the time: people move into the house to find the major appliances have been taken or replaced with cheapies. They pick up their car and later find the real spare had been replaced with a temp, or the two-year-old truck somehow has a four-year-old battery.

The first comment to you will be "How much is the change worth? Emotional losses can be hard to establish; financial losses are more solid." Another question might be the financial worth of the potential defendent.

Verbal agreements can be enforced if the Court accepts that they existed. A notice of legal action can motivate the other side to want to settle. But a judgement in your favor is not the same as money in your pocket. He can appeal, move away, divest himself of assets, fabricate a counter-suit, etc.

In any case, immediately take photos of the stumps that show how big and how recent and try to find out who did the cutting, skidding, selling and buying in case they need to be called as witnesses or you can "attach" the lumber before it's processed. Good luck.

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