Hollywood star Chris Pine ordered to give evidence in tree root dispute

Actor Chris Pine, who is best known for his role in the Star Trek series, is embroiled in a legal clash with his neighbour over “invasive” tree roots. 

The neighbour, Helen Yu, alleges that Pine has planted “numerous” trees that have encroached onto her property, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE. 

“Ficus Benjamina are known to have extremely invasive root systems,” the lawsuit said, as reported by the magazine. 

The lawsuit alleges that trees planted along the boundary by Pine have encouraged upon Yu’s land, and caused “substantial and ongoing damages to the plumbing and pipes, pool, pool deck, and other areas of in or around the Yu Property, creating an unreasonably unsafe condition.” 

In response to the lawsuit, Pine reportedly filed a countersuit claiming that when he originally purchased the property 14 years ago, Yu had installed a fence “approximately eight to ten feet” inside his property. 

Pine has been ordered to appear for a deposition on 25 October. According to a motion filed by Yu earlier this month, she had tried to depose Pine since January 2023 but he had not shown up to a 2 October deposition. 

“Either Pine does not want to be deposed, or his counsel is attempting to get around the trial court’s ruling denying his most recent application to continue the trial by refusing to cooperate in scheduling Pine’s deposition,” stated the motion filed by Yu’s lawyers. 

Pine filed a response stating that his lead attorney was busy finishing another trial in San Diego and had “limited availability” to attend the deposition.