First off: To the original Poster, please place breaks in your
paragraphs. You post goes on as one long drool:

But I do sympathise with you. This is very typical how contractors
work. There's one boss, and basically a bunch of ignorant fools who
don't even have a 4th grade education that work for him. (Did any of
them even speak english? I strongly doubt it)

And,.... they couldn't give a rat's ass about neighbor's property, or
damage to it. They only know how to go through the motions, and
basically do what thry're told.

I've seen this before, and have had this happen to my own property by a
number of contractors in Chicago, where it seems, they hire the scum of
the earth to do work. (But this happens all over) The contractors hire
whomever they can that will gladly accept being paid poverty wages.
The contractor's main concern? The Bottom Line!

Who cleaned the mess? As you said, you messed up by not taking
pictures. A cleaning busines should have been called out to clean the
mess they created, and that bill should've been shoved down the
contractor's throat, with the bill for the BirdBath.

Yep, he sure does lnow how it works, being sued, taken to small claims
court, not showing up, extensions, etc., etc. This Piece of **** has
been through it before.

What people like this really need, is a shotgun stuck up their ass.
That would change his tune in a hurry. The system has it set up that
****ers like this can get away with whatever they please. I myself HATE
worms like this.

If he did offer the $250, why didn't you take it?
Let him supposedly smash the old one in the street. While he's doing
so, call the police on him. Bottom line is "**** Him".
He doesn't deserve any better treatment.

If he now refuses to pay the $250, let your neighbor know that your very
unhappy with the whole mess, and that you are taking either, or both
him, or his contractor to small claims court, and suing. Tell him you
have a lawyer, and his name is "Sue"! best of luck, Mark