That tree was ready to die even if they left it alone. 180 years? Time to cut it down and plant a new one. https://www.hunker.com/12000115/how-long-do-oak-trees-live Ridiculous to make someone pay $600k over a tree and call it "damages" Did someone lose $600,000 because of this? Then nothing was damaged. Is "looking" at a tree worth $600k?
I don't know the actual answer to that question, but I would bet the dollar amount is somehow related to the overall cost of the construction/value of the home and was meant to penalize them. Making a rich person hurt. Works for me.
they got off easy. 180 year old anything removed should have jail time as part of the punishment. On another note I stood in front of General Sherman tree in Sequoia's giant forrest...wow wow wow and its over 2500 years old.