I'll try to sum this up quickly. A landcaper of the neighboring school cut down 100' of lilac bushes that he was told were on my property and was not to touch (according to the school reps). He claims they did it to "rejuvinate" them, but still no permission or reason to do so. I know that the landscaper is liable for the value of the bushes that have been removed, and I'm in the process of getting the bushes valued. I received a letter today from said landscaper that included a settlement agreement that may or may not be to my liking. He's given me ten days to respond, or he considers the matter closed.

I'm assuming I'm correct, but just wanted to make sure that I am. Even though he has sent me this letter with no way to really say "no" on the settlement agreement, I'm assuming that I could still file a lawsuit against him when the valuation comes in. IMHO, this letter is an attempt to finalize the resolution on his end without proper restitution because he feels that it is an annoyance having this hanging over his head. Any help would be appreciated.

You certainly have the right to sue him for the damages. His letter is just an attempt to settle and has no binding affect on you. Have you browsed through the information in LawInfo's Free Legal Resource Center to learn more about your issue yet? See: http://www.lawinfo.com/consumer.html. You can certainly try to speak to a lawyer to determine what legal options may be available. In the meantime, you may be able to learn more on your own. Search the "Free Legal Resources" tab, or browse the Consumer Resources. Good luck.