re: How much is too much to have a dead tree cut down and removed?

True, but once denied, your responses are dictated by the policy so you could file whatever type of protest with the company that is allowed but I wouldn't expect they would change the denial. Then your option would be to sue them. Then they would likely ask in a deposition if you had gotten an estimate on getting the tree taken down or had an arborist there, etc.

All they need is preponderance in a civil case. Now if no one told you it was a problem or if the person who looked at your tree said it had several more years or its still good, you're off the hook obviously. It's not likely to happen, I guess, if an agent/adjuster hasn't been to your house recently or if you have a real douchbag neighbor.