Need some advice... subcontractor gone bad.

[Full Throttle]

I’m the GC on a $52k kitchen remodel. Long story short, regular electrician is on extended vacation. Don’t have a backup, so I ask for a referral from my plumber. Guy he refers couldn’t get to it and refers someone else. Great...$4,000 for electrical work in kitchen.

Rough in fails 3 inspections but then passes. I pay electrician $2400. We Finish rest of job. Time for finish out of electrical and new guy comes in that didn’t do rough in. After 3 days of virtually no progress, I start pressing the guy. Said he’d been working at a car wash and can’t figure out what goes where etc. I call the master and he starts blaming me, customer, cabinet builders, appliance guy for all the delays. We all must of screwed something up according to him. After 2 more failed inspections and 2 more weeks without it completed, I have no choice but to fire this clown. Inspector told me he has many complaints and is in jeopardy of losing master license.

Electrician Sends me an invoice for $8200 (finish out balance was to be $1700) and says customer made all sorts of changes and that’s how much I owed. I refuse to pay. I didn’t agree to any changes nor were there any. He’s now placing a lien on my customers house. I find out he has tons of complaints, a very long criminal record and tons of suits against him and the guy doing the work is not even licensed. My customer still owes me $52k and I’ve paid out over $40k to contractors.

1. Is there any way to get around a lien?
2. Anyone know a good construction lawyer in dfw that can help me w/o breaking the bank?

Never been through anything like this before if anyone has some advice.

[mikemorvan]

I believe liens can be bonded around. Bad mojo. Good luck.

It's been awhile since i've had to deal with this. But, the lien doesn't really do anything until such time as the home owner would want to sell the house. But you don't want them out there to have to be dealt with. i believe it is possible to prove that the lien is bogus as well. Very time consuming. I'd prepare your customer for some heart burn, at a minimum. Document and organize all paperwork, change orders, conversations, etc., etc., etc. Good luck.

[Eagle19]

This is why I refuse to go into renovations. No help here but hope you get it worked out!


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[TP3]

Best of luck to you.
Makes me glad I'm just the cabinet guy.

[Cabela]

Pm sent

[Texas Stalker]

Did you have a contract with your sub? Paperwork? If so that should cover you. Show up to court when he places the Lien and show the judge. Also show the judge your documentation of his past failures and criminal record. No way a good judge will allow that lien to fly. If I EVER have any add ons they must be individually signed off on. Just my opinion of course.


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[Full Throttle]

He provided me with a handwritten quote at the beginning of the job. I gave him verbal authorization to begin. He had my customer sign something towards the end with a bunch of chicken scratch written all over it. Customer signed but wrote “everything in accordance with original contract” next to his signature.