LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced a lawsuit against a Florida-based company that allegedly violated the Michigan Consumer Protection Act while contracting work in the state in 2021 and 2022.
The lawsuit alleges that Canary Date Sculpting, which does business as Canary Tree Service, led a group of "storm chasing tree service companies" to do cleanup work after severe weather.
The work was done following severe weather in Oakland and Washtenaw counties during the summer of 2021 as well as work in Gaylord following a tornado in May of 2022.
Canary Tree Service owner Justin Hartmann allegedly recruited Mississippi-based Garrison McKinney Tree and Bridge Service, LLC, Kentucky-based E & B Contracting, and Holtslander and Sons Tree Service, LLC, a Michigan-based company to perform the work.
According to the lawsuit, the companies misled customers in terms of the cost of services, potential financial responsibility and their legal rights and obligations. The lawsuit also alleges that Canary Tree Service was price gouging customers who were affected by severe weather.
“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.”
You can read the entire lawsuit here.
Nessel advises anyone impacted by storm damage to request a written quote or estimate for any work. She also urges that any and all fine print is read before signing any contracts.
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