I'll try to keep this short. I do primarily siding work and was hired by a contractor friend of mine, I'll call John, to do just that on a large ranch style home and detatched garage/office. He was hired by "MR. BIG", who himself is a comercial contractor. This was to be Mr Biggs own home, indoor pool and such.
John bid the framing/siding labor and was required by "Big" to include the matterials. John went to local lumber yard for a framing take-off with, so he says, an unapproved, unengiennered, reduced size set of plans. I would never have agreed to this under these circumstances. The bid was submitted and he gave mr big a "Quick Books" style "estimate". I have no idea what was signed etc. I came in on a verbal agreement. I came to realize about half way through there was trouble brewing. I asked to be paid for the garage portion. John said have "BIG" pay you. Big said nothing doing.
In hind sight should have packed my tools and left. I had spent 2k on labor mine not included. I stayed because I was already 25% done with the house at this point and knew I would not be able to lien the property unless I was done.
I finished, and pleaded with "mr Big" to pay me, as John was unable to because the before mentioned lumber bid was now $20,000 over budget.
He was very happy with my work but esentially said sorry, its Johns responsibility.
I got lawyer to lien. $500. I am first in line for the lien. Lumber store then serves me, because I am first in line, as well as "John" and "Mr Big'' as a defendant in a lawsuit. My lawyer then writes many letters to many reciepients for many dollars. $1200.00 or so. One letter was to Labor and Industries re: surrity bond/ Savings account. I was advised from the begining not to go after "Johns" bond. Lets get the owner he says. So now I am paying him for something he advised me against in the first place. Not to mention with the amount of time that has gone by, I am probably 10th in line if I'm Lucky.
Lumber stores lawyer called me one night and told me I would be served, it was really a formality because of my position in line. He also said he thought "MR BIG" would pay and that I would not have to spend lots of dough on my lawyer, ya know "ride the coat tails".
Sorry for the length, any advice would be greatly appreciated. GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD. We are talking around 14K on my end and about 22K on the lumber end.
John bid the framing/siding labor and was required by "Big" to include the matterials. John went to local lumber yard for a framing take-off with, so he says, an unapproved, unengiennered, reduced size set of plans. I would never have agreed to this under these circumstances. The bid was submitted and he gave mr big a "Quick Books" style "estimate". I have no idea what was signed etc. I came in on a verbal agreement. I came to realize about half way through there was trouble brewing. I asked to be paid for the garage portion. John said have "BIG" pay you. Big said nothing doing.
In hind sight should have packed my tools and left. I had spent 2k on labor mine not included. I stayed because I was already 25% done with the house at this point and knew I would not be able to lien the property unless I was done.
I finished, and pleaded with "mr Big" to pay me, as John was unable to because the before mentioned lumber bid was now $20,000 over budget.
He was very happy with my work but esentially said sorry, its Johns responsibility.
I got lawyer to lien. $500. I am first in line for the lien. Lumber store then serves me, because I am first in line, as well as "John" and "Mr Big'' as a defendant in a lawsuit. My lawyer then writes many letters to many reciepients for many dollars. $1200.00 or so. One letter was to Labor and Industries re: surrity bond/ Savings account. I was advised from the begining not to go after "Johns" bond. Lets get the owner he says. So now I am paying him for something he advised me against in the first place. Not to mention with the amount of time that has gone by, I am probably 10th in line if I'm Lucky.
Lumber stores lawyer called me one night and told me I would be served, it was really a formality because of my position in line. He also said he thought "MR BIG" would pay and that I would not have to spend lots of dough on my lawyer, ya know "ride the coat tails".
Sorry for the length, any advice would be greatly appreciated. GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD. We are talking around 14K on my end and about 22K on the lumber end.