A Chancery Court lawsuit filed by a brother and sister says a neighbor bulldozed property the family has long claimed, including digging up a family pet cemetery and leaving animal carcasses strewn around.
The suit was filed by Susan Davidson and Bobby Earl Gordon, children of Helen Bonine, against Frank Goodwin and Goodwin Southern Property LLC. Also sued were another neighbor, Patricia Rosenbach (as a possible necessary party), and EPB.
The Bonine property is at 438 Whitehall Road and the Goodwin property at 446 Whitehall Road.
The suit, filed by attorneys Benjamin Mullins and Matthew Grossman of Knoxville, says the Bonines had used the property in question since 1959 and had a fence at the edge between it and the Goodwin tract.
It says on Aug 26, an attorney for Mr. Goodwin informed the Bonine lawyers that Mr. Goodwin intended to commence work on the property. The work took place two days later.
The suit says, in addition to destroying the pet cemetery, the fence was knocked down, and an "irreplaceable" holly tree that Helen Bonine had planted in 1964 was cut down.
Ms. Davidson said agents of Goodwin Southern Property "made physical threats against her by swearing at her and telling her they would kill her if she did not get off the property."
Frank Goodwin was operating one of the bulldozers, it was stated.
The suit asks $325,000 in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages.