I assume that the guy who walked away from this has poor judgement (perhaps a drug or alcohol problem), and has nothing to lose in a lawsuit. He already got the money, so he just doesn't care.AND ... the tree is still standing. So what's your point? Know-it-alls like you are endlessly entertaining ...
Don't have to be a pro to use a little common sense. Do you REALLY think someone would've walked away for that long in today's litigious society if the tree was going to come crashing down on the guy's house??