[nj] Seeking Legal Advice – Nj Tree Damage & Neighbor Dispute

Hi all, I'm looking for advice from any lawyers familiar with NJ property law.

During the storm last week, one of our trees fell and landed where our next-door neighbor’s fence meets the fence behind his property. Both fences are owned by the neighbors, not us. From what I’ve read, NJ law generally states that a homeowner is responsible for damage to their own property unless the fallen tree was neglected or diseased. However, I haven’t been able to find any official documentation or statutes on a government website—just blog posts that don’t cite specific laws.

Our next-door neighbor has been great to work with. His fence took most of the damage, and we split the cost of tree removal. He’s handling his fence replacement. The issue is with the neighbor behind him, who insists we are responsible for repairing his fence, a pine tree he believes was damaged by the fall, and his irrigation system. We’ve told him multiple times to contact his homeowners insurance, but he refuses and keeps demanding direct payment from us.

Does anyone have experience with a situation like this? Can anyone point me to actual NJ laws or legal resources that clarify liability in these cases? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!