Indiana AG: Tree trimmer must pay $140,000 to consumers

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis tree trimmer must pay more than $140,000 after a judge found the company performed shoddy work for three seniors.

The Indiana attorney general’s office said Thursday that Spaulding’s Tree Experts contracted with three older people - two with dementia - for $47,000 but provided inadequate work. Under the state’s Senior Consumer Protection Act, Spaulding must pay triple damages. The law provides harsher penalties for those found guilty of financially exploiting people 60 or older.

The September lawsuit says Spaulding persuaded a 93-year-old homeowner with dementia to sign a contract six days after he had previously turned them down, and convinced him to sign two additional contracts for the same services.

A phone message seeking comment was left at the company’s Indianapolis office.