Posted on 05/13/2007 8:23:09 PM PDT by LdSentinal
Leonardo DiCaprio has been fighting to save the world from climate change — but the star's neighbours claim it is he who is wrecking their environment.
The Departed actor — who will debut his environmentalist call to action film The 11th Hour at Cannes next week — is being taken to task in court for allegedly undermining and trashing the garden of his neighbours' multi-million dollar mansion.
DiCaprio is being sued for "maliciously" crossing onto a neighbouring couple's property while renovating his Hollywood Hills home — cutting and removing hedges, excavating earth and bedrock which the couple claims destabilised their swimming pool and patio decking, according to the lawsuit.
Ronald and Joan Linclau filed the documents in Los Angeles Superior Court suing for a sum of at least $300,000 for trespass and removal of the support for their land — and for being a nuisance.
The pair claim the damage was done while DiCaprio was renovating his home to build a basketball court.
DiCaprio owns a home in the ultra-exclusive Hollywood Hills on Oriole Way, a property that ajoins the Linclau's home on Thrasher Avenue.
The documents state: "Properties of Plaintiffs and Defendants adjoin each other at Plaintiffs' southern boundary. Plaintiffs land in its natural state was receiving and continues to receive lateral support from Defendant's adjoining land."
The couple claim in the papers that DiCaprio undermined their property when he began building his basketball court.
The papers state: "On or about July 1, 2004, defendants (DiCaprio) commenced construction of a basketball/sports court on the Oriole property behind defendants home.
"In the process of constructing the basketball court on the Oriole Way Property, defendants entered Plaintiffs Thrasher Property, cut and removed hedges and other plants that were the property of Plaintiff; excavated earth, granite and bedrock that was part of Plaintiff's property; and cut, excavated and removed the toe of the slope located in part on the Thrasher Property and in part on the Oriole Way Property, compromising and interfering with the lateral and subjacent support of Plaintiff's land.
"In doing the same, Defendants destabilized the hillside slope running behind Plaintiffs Thrasher Property and in the process undermined the support for Plaintiff's deck and pool above.
"Defendants action, as alleged above were done without the consent or permission of Plaintiffs, were done without authority and were done intentionally with Defendants full knowledge that they were encroaching on Plaintiffs land and doing damage to Plaintiffs Thrasher Property."
The couple claim to that DiCaprio ignored warnings from them that he was damaging their home.
The suit states: "During and after the first instance of trespass, Plaintiffs demanded that Defendants stop trespassing on their land immediately and take no action to excavate or otherwise harm Plaintiff's property.
"Defendant's ignored Plaintiff's demands and continued to trespass onto Plaintiffs Thrasher Property and damage it."
The neighbors assert that damages exceed (A$300,000) $250,000.
A rep for the actor was not immediately available for comment.
DiCaprio — who presented former U.S. president Al Gore with the Oscar for his film An Inconvenient Truth — has also has refused to pay for the damage, according to the lawsuit.
Which came first...the jerk or the “star”?
I wonder if it takes a self-adoring jerk to BE a “star” or it being a “star” turns ‘em INTO selfish jerks...?
Have to ask why they did not get an court order while it was happening or just physicially prevent it.
Another A-hole that wants to tell everyone how to live as long as he can do what he wants.
They all have a case of “do as I say” not do as I do.
suing for a sum of at least $300,000 for trespass and removal of the support for their land — and for being a nuisance
I'm not sure you can sue for that, but if you can... I can clean out Hollywood in 15 minutes...
Well the funniest part of this story is that Leonardo is far too short to play basketball but apparently too stupid to know that. ;)
Perhaps they weren’t home or else they didn’t have a liberal human shield handy to lay down in front of the bulldozer for them. Or, they couldn’t think of the proper Spanish words to shout at the equipment operators to get them to stop.
I had not considered that they were not there.
As for stopping them in real time, calling the cops is all it takes
The only reason to watch his movies is to see him die at the end.
On that basis, I hope they make it a class action suit.
I didn’t think you could even mow your yard in Calif. without a permit.
Leonardo diCrapio - never did like the snot-nosed little turd.
Actually DiCaprio is pretty good about his energy uses, building a baskeball court aside. He drives a hybrid and bought them for all of his family members. And he flies commercial flights instead of chartering jets. All things considered he is doing a much better job than many stars who won’t to save the environment. Not to mention he is one of the best young actors around.
Truer words were never spoken. Even the rich and famous have illiterate, illegal hispanics working for $300 a week to renovate their million dollar homes. I live here. I could tell you stories...
You see, Watermelons, because of their speech and actions, should be beyond reproach. Not just meeting a goal or two but actually living, breathing and being one with Gaia - nothing less.
Otherwise they are just hypocrites.
The fact that he rides commercial and gives hybrids to his family is like saying, "Oh! Lookie here! Leonardo puts out his recycle bin every Tuesday!"
These types of property disputes are common in the hills around the exclusive neighborhoods of LA. Many were built on geololgically unstable, tiny and really stupid lots, in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Developing them causes incredible drainage and stability issues. The hills themselves are crumbly, loose river deposits and just about anything will set them off. I keep expecting some monster slides or earthquakes to take out alot of those neighborhoods.
Leo should look to this contractor for suggesting something like this. However, I know that often the rich and famous around there just kind of blow off the impact this stuff has on their neighbors and the microenvironment around their properties. Insurers and courts pick up the pieces.
ping
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