Replies

How much money are you talking about? I have some limited experience in this area, and my recollection is that he is required to pay his subs before he pays off anyone else. That would arguably give you a claim against the suppliers as well.

My experience is ten years old, but I used to own a company that bought accounts receivable from other businesses. Construction was a unique area, because the subcontractors and craftsmen were covered under special laws that gave them the right to file mechanics liens against the GC.

We made the mistake of buying receivables from a contractor, and even though we had advanced money to him against the invoices, we discovered too late that his subs had first priority to the proceeds, and we took a pretty big hit.

My recollection is somewhat rusty, but I think you have all sorts of rights here. The only thing is, if you pursue them legally, it will take a long time and a lot of legal expenses to recover your damages. Is the rabbit worth the chase? If you're only talking a few hundred (or even a few thousand) dollars, you're out of luck as a practical matter. But if the money owed is substantial, it could be worth your while.

Make sure that you go to a lawyer who has specific construction-industry related experience, though. Don't go to an attorney who has never handled a construction-related case like this before, or you will pay extra to finance his research into the issues.

Hey thanks for your insight...I need to get it from a construction perspective....
The $ amount is a little over$5,000.
I'm gonna see a lawyer on this.
Here's the situation.....
By profession I'm a High School Teacher, My hobby is restoring old wooden boats ( Like Chris-Craft runabouts)
This guy had the slip next to me and admired my inlay work on the boat.
He asked me to do a inlaid compass rose in the entryway on a lake house he was building. I did the job over the summer. He just never paid me.
I'm concerned that he knows that I'm not a Licensed sub and has blowen me off