Chris Pine Ordered To Face Deposition In Legal Feud With Neighbor Over Invasive Trees
Chris Pine has found himself at the center of a legal dispute with his neighbor, Helen Yu, and a judge has ordered the actor to appear for a deposition later this month. The feud, which involves encroaching trees and property damage, has been dragging on since 2022, and tensions are clearly escalating.
The 44-year-old actor, best known for his roles in Star Trek and Wonder Woman, is set to testify on October 25 at 10 a.m. in Los Angeles. The deposition will require Chris to provide documents requested by Helen, his neighbor whose property shares a boundary with his Los Angeles home.
The legal battle began when Helen accused Chris of planting numerous Ficus trees along their shared property line. These trees, known for their aggressive root systems, allegedly caused extensive damage to Helen’s property.
According to Helen’s lawsuit, the trees have cracked her walls, damaged plumbing and pipes, and even affected her pool and deck, making her home unsafe. She claims this has interfered with her ability to enjoy her property.
In response, Chris didn’t stay quiet. He filed a countersuit, claiming that Helen had previously installed a fence on his property — about eight to ten feet inside his boundary — when he purchased the home in 2010. The back-and-forth legal drama has now reached the point where Chris’ presence is required in court, much to his dismay.
Helen’s legal team has been trying to schedule Chris’ deposition since January 2023, but according to documents filed in court, the actor failed to show up for a deposition on October 2. Helen’s lawyers claim they’ve been flexible and accommodating with the actor’s schedule, but they argue that he is either avoiding the deposition or trying to delay the case further.
In his defense, Chris’ legal team responded that his lead attorney, Thomas Brown, has been tied up in another lengthy trial in San Diego, making it difficult to attend to this case. His filing suggests frustration over what he perceives as a lack of consideration for his own availability.
As of now, both sides remain locked in a legal battle over property lines, invasive trees, and substantial damage claims. With the deposition date looming, it’s clear this feud is far from over.
