Bullies always threaten and many people are scared of these legal threats. I always think that if your decision was made in a legally correct way ie in accordance with the Act then the EC should advise the person that they will see him/her in Court. They are often just idle threats. It’s usually a tactic to try and scare the EC and looks like it has worked. Can’t you talk to them about risk management eg manage the risk. Check to make sure that the decision was made correctly and the meeting was in accordance with the Act, then get the name of a good Strata solicitor and have the tree taken out . They can then wait for the summons to court but it likely will never come. I still have my L plates on with Strata but I do know and experience how bullies operate in Strata to get their own way, legal action idle threats are usually one of their tactics. 