Sal's Landscape & Tree Service

Sal's did over $1,500 worth of damage to my cedar, board-on-board privacy fence that was installed less than two years ago. I called the day it happened, and sent texts, emails, numerous photos of the damage. His workers ran their lawn mower down the side of the fence, chipping every top board, scraping every top and bottom board, breaking off half of a board off of the gate, and nearly tearing the entire gate off the fence (the gate hangs lower on one side, is pushed in at the top, and pulled out at the bottom). When I sent him the estimate, he responded with the following via email:

I don't understand what your trying to get of this 2 pickets that fell of your fence. I will not paid for anything. So don't be sending me estimates of anything.
It's understandable that things are going to happen but for 2 pickets your want get a 1500.00 job that pretty ridiculous.
Fence pockets are always likely to splint within time and sun.
All I can do is apologize.
Thanks Sal

Obviously, two pickets did not "fall off my fence", and obviously, the damage was not due to "time and sun." His company is insured and bonded, and yet he refuses to pay for damage that is obviously due to his negligence.