Tree's , Property lines, and Improper root cutting.

The other day I was called out to a home to look at some work that was going on beside a home of a friend of mine. Apparently the owner of a trailer park had some issues about a electrical line that they had run on top of the ground and were in violation by the county. So instead of getting some professionals to come in and bore a line, they decided to take chainsaws to the roots of a two hundred year old Live Oak that that was on the property line next to my friends home. After looking at the damage to this root system that had just been butchered up and very close to the trunk I might add, I suggested to him to document and take pictures of the damage.
The damage to this tree will not be known for some time. It might be two or three years from now, Or it could be during the next tropical storm when the tree just falls over. Who knows?
My friend said that he talked to some attorneys , One of which was supposed to be the best and he said my friend had no case? I told him to get another attorney quick, the next attorney said that he had a case but unfortunately will have to share the cost if the tree falls over. Again I told him that the lawyer was wrong. Why should he have to bear the cost to remove this Giant Oak when he did nothing to cause this trees decline.
If there is anyone who has some experience with these types of matters please feel free to comment below. Contact Beechnut Tree before you go cutting roots,  especially if those roots connect to a neighbors tree.