VALDOSTA, Ga. — A Valdosta woman said a tree service she hired to remove trees from her property dropped one onto her home, causing more than $46,500 in damage, and then stopped responding to her attempts to seek repairs.

Michelle Thomason said she hired Shannon Maine d/b/a Maine’s Tree Service in August 2025 to remove four trees from her property at Copeland Mill Drive before storm season. She said she chose Maine after seeing his crew working nearby and agreed to pay $1,450 for the job.

Tree falls on home during removal

Thomason said that on or around Aug. 23, 2025, a worker identified as Brad Rogers arrived at Thomason’s property and began the job. According to Thomason, Rogers cut down the first two trees without issue. When he began cutting the third tree, it fell directly onto her home. Rogers confirmed over the phone to WALB that he cut the tree that fell onto Thomason’s home, but said he did try to make things right afterward.

“I was sitting in the backyard, and branches just literally flew over my head,” Thomason said. “I came around, and the guys that he had working out here ended up leaving—didn’t care to check on my animals, see if I was okay, if anyone was home—literally left.”

Thomason said she and her son live in the home. She said rain began entering through the damaged roof shortly after the tree fell.

Damage and failed repairs

According to a Nov. 21, 2025, demand letter from Langdale Vallotton, LLP, the tree broke through Thomason’s roof and ceiling and caused damage to walls, cabinets and flooring.

The letter states the home was “nearly completely bisected” by the impact and that Thomason and her family were inside at the time.

Maine reportedly sent a worker to place a temporary tarp over the roof the same day. The following day, Aug. 24, 2025, Rogers returned to remove the tree. On Aug. 25, 2025, the worker returned and boarded up the ceiling in an attempt to prevent it from caving in.

Thomason said Maine initially promised to return and make repairs but then stopped responding.

“He ended up coming back and looking at the damages from the outside while I was at work, and then he just started avoiding my phone calls completely,” Thomason said. “He promised me he would fix it, and he didn’t.”

Text messages show Maine’s promises

Text messages between Thomason and Maine, reviewed by WALB, show Maine acknowledging the damage and promising to address it in the hours and days after the incident.

On Aug. 23, 2025, Maine texted Thomason: “Oh my God man I’m so sorry I should wait and done it will get take care of.”

In a follow-up message the same day at 2:10 p.m., Maine wrote: “Once again I’m so sorry about that and we will get it took care of.”

When Thomason replied that workers had left without cleaning up the mess, Maine responded: “I will make sure it’s handled.”

The following morning, Aug. 24, 2025, at 9:06 a.m., Thomason texted Maine that the worker had not returned as promised to clean up.

In a separate message, Thomason wrote that she was “getting worried cause they aren’t even getting the tree off my house or cleaning the mess and I haven’t seen the Chris guy.”

Thomason said Maine stopped responding after those exchanges.

Insurance and legal action

Thomason said Maine represented to her that he was insured. The demand letter states Maine has failed to provide proof of insurance despite that representation.

“At the time, he said he was insured and licensed, and he was not,” Thomason said.

Thomason retained Langdale Vallotton, LLP, which sent a 10-day demand letter to Maine on Nov. 21, 2025, seeking $46,500—the amount estimated by local contractor, Clean Site Restoration, to repair the property. The letter also demands Maine disclose the name of any insurer, coverage limits and the legal names and addresses of workers.

Thomason said Maine called the attorney’s office to schedule a phone appointment but did not follow through.

“[Maine] ghosted [the attorney], and she has not been able to get in contact with him since,” Thomason said.

Maine responds to news inquiry

During an interview, WALB reached Maine by phone. Maine said Rogers was responsible for the damage.

“Brad Rogers did that job,” Maine said.

“[Thomason] said she hired your company,” WALB’s Taylor Lewis responded.

“Yeah, I hired Brad Rogers,” Maine said.

Maine said he was driving and would call back within 20 minutes. He has not called back yet.

Thomason said she was not surprised.

“I don’t think he’s going to call [WALB] back,” she said. “I didn’t hire Brad. I hired Shannon.”

Ongoing damage

Thomason said conditions inside the home have continued to worsen. She said water leaks through multiple areas of the ceiling, floors are beginning to warp and bow, a closet was damaged in the impact and her front door is jammed shut from the structural damage.

“I go through two tarps every three months,” she said. “They just keep ripping.”

Thomason said she works 12- to 13-hour shifts caring for elderly patients and returns home to clean up water damage.

“When I get home, I’m exhausted, but it has to be done,” she said.

The demand letter states that if Maine does not respond within 10 days, Thomason’s attorney will proceed with filing a lawsuit. The letter also notes that attorney’s fees and costs may be sought pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 13-6-11.

Thomason said her advice to others is to verify contractor credentials before hiring.

“Do your own research. Don’t hire anybody without an actual signed contract and double-checking that they’re insured,” she said.

Rebuilding

Nearly a year after this incident, Thomason is promoting a GoFundMe she set up for support. If you would like to donate, click the link below.

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