(a) A person who harvests standing timber with knowledge that the harvesting is without the permission of the owner of the standing timber and a person who causes another person to harvest standing timber without the permission of the owner of the standing timber are jointly and severally liable to the owner for damages in an amount equal to the sum of the mill price of the timber harvested and all reasonable expenses incurred by the owner as a direct result of the unauthorized harvesting.
(b) Payment of damages by a person under this section does not preclude a prosecution of the person under Section 151.005 or 151.052.
(c) This section does not apply to the trimming or clearing of trees in the vicinity of a utility line or right-of-way.