My dipshit contractor did something similar.

Me, before demo on a big remodel: "Hey, if you could get rid of these soffits, (on the first floor, with a lot of weight above them) that would be cool."

Them: " Yeah, after we get it open we'll take a look and let you know."

I swing by a couple days later and this is how they rerouted things that were in the soffits, without saying anything to me.

So anyway, I'm in litigation now.