On February 29, 2016, Clark Mitchell obtained a defense verdict for Defendant David Benner, a Guthrie County farmer, who had been accused of wrongfully removing trees near a property line shared with his neighbor. Plaintiffs alleged negligence, trespassing, and intentional destruction of trees pursuant to Iowa Code section 658.4. Additionally, Plaintiffs sought punitive damages. Two weeks before trial, Plaintiffs demanded $635,000. After a five-day trial, the jury returned a defense verdict on all counts.