I have a complicated issue and looking for some opinions.

My residential back property line is next to commercial offices. When they set up the parking lot, a retaining wall was put in and cut into the root system of an old sweet gum tree with about an eight foot trunk. The tree is slowly dying out and puts out a lot of sweet gum balls. During the tropical storm a pine tree broke in half and is hanging in the tree.

I spoke with owner of the commercial property and explained that the pine would need to be removed from his lot and he is good with that. He asked if he could take down the sweet gum tree because the cleanup from the leaves and sweet gum balls was expensive. That was until the estimate. Now he wants to take out the branches hanging over his lot when they come to take out the pine (I'm paying the bill on it).

My thinking is by removing a large amount of the branches will kill off the tree a lot faster and cause a hazard. This puts the liability on me for future problems caused by rotting. The tree service backs that.

What you think?

I don't know anything about that kind of tree but my motto is .............." when in doubt cut it out". I own 3 chainsaws and not afraid to use them. 

I cut down anything that is a potential hazard. It is likely that between the loss of roots and limbs the tree will decline faster.

Insurance has denied the claim for the tree that is broken and hanging over the parking lot. They say the tree has not caused any damages.

I tried my insurance company on a similar senario and they said until it falls and hits something thay would not pay. I suggest biting the bullet and cutting the sweet gum out expecially problem gone and done with, if that tree rots its a safe bet you will have yearly bee problems they seem to love those trees.

i had an identical scenario and the same deal with the insurance. they dont want to pay even in the event a tree does fall and injure someone, or crush a vehicle!
i just took it upon myself to cut down the dying tree, and all branches on other trees that would seem to pose a potential hazard to my property and anyone entering it!

bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz   timberrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

that's a huge tree!