On the stealing of inventions, all you'd have had to do is write down what you'd done and sign and date it. Then, even if he did try to sue you you'd have proof of "prior aret" and his patent, even if he had one wouldn't be worth the paper it was written on.
PPeople think patents are such wonderfull things, but all they give you is a leg to stand on when you sue the person you think has stolen your patented stuff. Just because this jerk said the tree was in his catalog means nothing. I really doubt such a design would be patentable. Tom Fowle
