OMAHA, Neb. -- Much like Solomon's biblical court, an Omaha man said he was forced to split a tree down the middle to satisfy a neighbor.

A 20-year old pine tree sits in Steve Liston's front yard near 130th and Ellison streets. One side is green and lush and the other is shaved down to the middle of the tree.

Liston said he has lived in his home for 11 years. Last year, he got a certified letter from his neighbor asking him to cut the tree because it was damaging the grass.

"I trimmed it as far back as I possibly could and he sent me a certified letter and said it wasn't good enough," Liston said. "Then, we went to small claims court and the judge said I got to trim it."

Liston said he decided not to cut the tree down entirely because it helps prevent his son's basketball from going onto the neighbor's property.

"My little boy's ball went over the fence and I went over to retrieve it and he called the police," Liston said.

The city of Omaha said that when residents have a dispute over private property, if the residents can't solve it themselves, legal action is about the only other option available.

Liston's neighbor could not be reached for comment.

Liston said he doesn't understand how his neighbor thinks half a tree looks better than a bare patch of grass.

"He's the one that has to see that side of the tree, which doesn't make any sense to me," Liston said.

Liston said he consulted with an arborist, who told him that side of the tree will never grow back.

Liston said the neighbor who took him to court has also had legal trouble over a river birch that hangs into that neighbor's yard.