DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – A cancer researcher from Dearborn Heights said the city ignored years of warnings about a tree on his property until that tree collapsed -- half on him and half on his house.
Mohamed Sobh, of the Karmanos Cancer Institute, said a tree between the road and sidewalk in front of his home fell on him during an Aug. 27, 2024, storm.
”The first half of the tree fell on Mohamed Sobh and his vehicle, resulting in severe, life-altering injuries," he said through his lawyer, Michael Jaafar. “Minutes later, the second half of the tree crashed into his home while his children were inside, preparing for dinner.”
Sobh said his injuries include fractures to the spine, ribs, pelvis, and other parts of the body, “leaving him forever maimed and scarred.”
Sobh said for years he warned the city about the tree. He even offered to pay for its removal, according to Jaafar. They said after the tree fell on Sobh, most of the trees on the block were removed by the city.
While Sobh was in the emergency room, his wife received a bill from the city, charging them $899 for the ambulance ride, Jaafar said.
Then, with Sobh in a wheelchair due to his injuries, the city issued a notice threatening to fine him for the length of his grass, the release said.
“The residents of Dearborn Heights have long expressed frustration over the city’s failure to remove diseased and hazardous trees,” Jaafar wrote.
The document includes screenshots of Facebook comments from frustrated Dearborn Heights residents. It also accuses the city of gross negligence.
Shawn Ley reached out to the mayor‘s office, but the mayor said he can‘t comment on this case because lawyers are involved. The lawsuit has not yet been officially filed.
When asked why trees were cut down after what happened at Sobh’s house, the mayor said that’s a City Council matter.
"I wish someone had reached out to City Council regarding the mayor’s inaccurate claim that this is solely a Council issue. We have been actively advocating for the removal of dead trees and even increased the budget to address this, yet the administration failed to take action. While we provided the necessary funds, they chose not to allocate them for tree trimming and removal. Respectfully."
Dearborn Heights Councilman Hassan Saab
