In Florida, Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others ...

... or at least some tree thieves get a better deal than others.


Exhibit A:

Any person who proves by clear and convincing evidence that he or she has been injured in any fashion by reason of any violation of ss. 812.012-812.037 or s. 825.103(1) has a cause of action for threefold the actual damages sustained ... -- Florida Statute § 772.11

Exhibit A(1):

(1) A person commits theft if he or she knowingly obtains or uses, or endeavors to obtain or to use, the property of another with intent to, either temporarily or permanently:
(a) Deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit from the property.
(b) Appropriate the property to his or her own use or to the use of any person not entitled to the use of the property. -- Florida Statute § 812.014

Exhibit B:

Three years after what a grand jury called a flagrantly illegal $2 million tree giveaway to a well-connected Panhandle billboard company, the Florida Department of Transportation settled for pennies on the dollar.

The state agree to accept just $100,000, although $90,000 of that is yet to be collected. The payments will be made interest-free over the next five years. -- Matt Dixon at Politijax