(Source: MIRS.news, Published 06/03/2024) Four tree service companies and one owner are facing a lawsuit alleging they deceived Michigan consumers seeking storm clean-up services.
Attorney General Dana Nessel's suit filed in Ingham County Circuit Court alleges Florida-based Canary Date Sculpting Inc., Mississippi-based Garrison McKinney Tree and Bridge Services and Kentucky-based E & B Contracting, as well as Michigan-based Holtslander and Sons Tree Service, violated the state's Consumer Protect Act while performing work for residents in Oakland and Washtenaw counties during summer 2021 and for a resident in Gaylord following the May 2022 tornado.
The suit alleges these companies misled consumers about the nature of the agreements they were signing, the cost of the services, potential financial responsibility for costs not covered by insurance and their legal rights and obligations.
The AG's office also accuses Canary of price gouging consumers affected by severe weather, which increased the demand for tree-trimming services, throughout 2021 and 2022.
"After major storms, bad actors take advantage of vulnerable residents desperate to repair damage to their homes and clean up debris," Nessel said. "My office will not tolerate businesses that exploit consumers with deceptive tactics and will continue to investigate and pursue predatory companies to the fullest extent of the law."
The AG's office initiated an investigation into potential consumer exploitation following the 2022 Gaylord tornado.
According to the lawsuit, Canary Tree Service and its owner, Justin Hartmann, recruited the other tree service companies to perform storm clean-up work in 2021 and 2022.
