Timber cutting leads to lawsuit

CANTON — Two Gouverneur residents have filed suit against a Star Lake logging company, claiming it clear-cut a forest instead of just knocking down the large trees on their property.

The lawsuit, brought by Robert and Gary Byrns, seeks damages of up to $750,000 against Clearlake Land Co. Inc., Star Lake, and Noah and Gordon Gardner.

A timber contract signed Aug. 26, 2006, called for Clearlake to pay the Byrnses 50 percent of the hardwood trees sales at $800 and above per 1,000 board feet and 33 percent for all other hardwoods sold. Clearlake also would pay them $100 per 1,000 board feet for all softwoods.

The contract also called for Clearlake to mark and not harvest trees less than 8 inches in diameter. The Byrnses' property is at 495 Byrns Road in the town of Gouverneur.

Clearlake "proceeded to 'clear cut' thousands of standing trees, regardless of diameter, conducted logging operations and the cutting and removal of trees and timber in areas not agreed to and not designated for logging," the suit alleges.

The logging company didn't provide paperwork on the number of trees cut down or sold. The suit alleges Clearlake also left behind large ruts in the ground and sharp tree edges in cow pastures, allowing the animals to injure themselves.

The Byrnses also found treetops not taken for harvesting were partially buried by logging equipment in the "muddy soil." The treetops were supposed to be cleared from the property.

"I deny all of it," Gordon Gardner said, noting he's worked on several jobs for St. Lawrence County and the state without any problem. "I have been in business for 25 years. This is the first claim against us."

Mr. Gardner said he had a dispute with a truck driver on the number of loads taken for processing from the site. He also claimed never to have received several letters sent by the Byrnses' attorney, Robert G. Raymond, Gouverneur, about the issue.

Mr. Raymond declined comment.