what kind of attorney should i get for employer who owes subcontractor money

by Maximilian Durgan MD 6 min read

What am I entitled to if my subcontractor doesn't finish the job?

Aug 05, 2011 · Posted on Aug 7, 2011. There is one other remebdy available to you, provided you're both licensed contractors in the State of Florida. Once you obtain a judgment (even if it is a defualt judgment), and cannot collect on it, you can file a complaint against the contractor with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Can an independent contractor get legal support to get paid?

Nov 14, 2012 · Answered on Nov 15th, 2012 at 3:39 PM. If you are within 90 days, file a lien on the properties, then send a copy to the property owner. Yes, you can file this lien yourself, and you can file it with out any one's permission. Go to the clerk of Superior Court, in the county where this is located. Tell the clerk you want to look at the ...

Can a worker be a subcontractor if they own equipment?

Jun 23, 2020 · Contact an attorney that handles this type of case. They will help you get the pay you're owed, but you will also have to pay the attorney for their time. Many attorneys of this type agree to be paid only if you win the case. You can also specify that the attorney's fees will be paid as part of the settlement by the employer.

Can my employer cut my pay if I'm an independent contractor?

The legislation effectively freezes money in the hands of the principal contractor before it is paid to the person or entity who owes the sub-contractor the money. A sub-contractor must first lodge and serve an adjudication application on the contractor and then serve on the principal contractor a “payment withholding request”.

What happens if a subcontractor does not pay?

When the subcontractor does not get paid then they have grounds to pursue the contractor for monies owed. This could be in the form of wages or unpaid invoices for services rendered. In the USA, the owner of the property can be held liable for payment under a “Mechanics Lien”.Jul 9, 2019

What rights do I have as a subcontractor?

Understanding subcontractor rights Workers are legally entitled to National Minimum Wage, working time rights, union rights, health and safety protection and protection from discrimination.Oct 25, 2019

What do you do when a company won't pay you?

Contact your employer (preferably in writing) and ask for the wages owed to you. If your employer refuses to do so, consider filing a claim with your state's labor agency. File a suit in small claims court or superior court for the amount owed.Dec 27, 2021

What is a subcontractor liable for?

Many sub-contracts contain clauses requiring the subcontractor to indemnify you as the head contractor for its liability for death, injury or damage caused by the subcontractors.Apr 24, 2015

Do contractors have employment rights?

Contractors don't need employment rights, but situations do arise where a long-term relationship between a contractor and a client starts to resemble having a job.Feb 20, 2018

Do contractors get employment rights after 2 years?

The client's HR department has certainly got the wrong end of the stick, as there is no legislation that states that contractors or freelancers gain the right to demand permanent employment after two years. Contractors like Liam are business-to-business service providers.Feb 20, 2018

Can I sue my employer for not paying me correctly?

You can bring a claim against your employer in an employment tribunal if: You haven't been paid at all; for work you have done. Deductions have been made from your wages (so you received less than you were expecting) and these were not authorised; or. you wish to challenge the amount you've been paid.

How do you write a demand letter for unpaid wages?

What should I say in my demand letter? Your demand should notify your employer that you are requesting unpaid wages. Although the letter does not need to be detailed, it should include your best estimate of the amount of money you are owed, the type(s) of wages you are claiming, and instructions for payment.

Can you sue your employer?

Some people worry that suing their employer may cause problems in the workplace. However, employees are legally entitled to seek compensation from an employer if they breach their duty of care. This means that you cannot be discriminated against or dismissed as a result of making a claim against your employer.Aug 3, 2021

What is the difference between contractor and subcontractor?

Typically, a contractor works under a contractual agreement to provide services, labor or materials to complete a project. Subcontractors are businesses or individuals that carry out work for a contractor as part of the larger contracted project.May 20, 2020

What is subcontractor statement?

A Subcontractor Statement is a contract between a Principal Contractor (yourself) and a Subcontractor. A completed and signed form helps protect you from the Workers Compensation premiums, Payroll Tax and Wages due or payable by the Subcontractor.Sep 27, 2019

What is subcontractor insurance?

General liability insurance is a type of subcontractor liability insurance that protects against lawsuits over third-party bodily injuries and client property damage. Many small companies won't work with subcontractors unless they carry their own general liability insurance.

How long does it take to file a lien on a property?

If you are within 90 days , file a lien on the properties, then send a copy to the property owner. Yes, you can file this lien yourself, and you can file it with out any one's permission. Go to the clerk of Superior Court, in the county where this is located.

How long do you have to pay off a lien in Idaho?

In Idaho, that's a 90 day period. That would put pressure on the property owner (who doesn't want his property liened) to in turn put pressure on the general contractor to pay you. If you file such a lien, you then have 6 months from the day so filed, to start a foreclosure lawsuit against the property (force the property to be sold and liens paid off in the order of their 'priority'). This can actually be risky, if not enough is made from the sale of the property to pay off all the liens ahead of you, you might have to pay off those with lien rights ahead of yours. You could file a lawsuit directly against the general contractor. It would be for contract damages, i.e., to get paid what the general contractor owes you. Keep the text messages, they are evidence of what the general contractor has agreed to.

What is the difference between an independent contractor and an employee?

The basic difference between the two is that an employee's day-to-day work is directly supervised and controlled by the employer, and an independent contractor works unsupervised without the employer telling them exactly how the work must be done. Employees are paid with a salary or an hourly rate of pay, while contractors are typically paid by ...

How to file a claim against an employer?

Contact your state's employment agency, specifically the wage and hour department, to file a claim against the employer. Either process can take a long time, and it's possible you may never get paid. Be sure to keep all documentation given to you by the employer that proves how much you are owed.

Can an independent contractor be paid?

An independent contractor not paid for work that he or she completed may be wondering what recourse he has against his client and how to make them pay as agreed. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for an independent contractor to have difficulty being paid by their employers.

Do employers have to pay overtime?

Employers are obligated to pay their employees and must offer fair pay, at least the minimum wage required by their state. They also must pay overtime hours, and the pay must be distributed immediately and on a regular basis. Every state has specific laws that govern how employers pay their workers, and it's also regulated by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

Can independent contractors force their clients to pay?

If they don't, they should. However, it may still be possible to force your client to pay as agreed without a written contract.

Can I go to small claims court?

Whether you are an employee or an independent contractor, you can go to small claims court to attempt collection from an employer or client. Each state has its own limitations on the amount you can claim in small claims court. However, be aware that you may still have difficulty getting payment even if you win your case.

Can you get paid if you file for bankruptcy?

If you have been doing work for a business that files for bankruptcy, you may have an even tougher time getting paid . Businesses that file bankruptcy have to pay claims for money they owe in a specific order, and independent contractors are rarely at the top of the list. However, this doesn't mean you should give up.

Is payroll fraud common?

“Payroll fraud” or “independent contractor misclassification” is surprisingly common. It is particularly rampant in the janitorial, home care, trucking, and delivery sectors. Workers have filed major lawsuits against companies alleging that they should be treated as employees. Recent cases in the news include lawsuits by Uber drivers, port truck drivers, janitors, and home cleaners. These workers are often owed thousands of dollars in overtime pay and other wages and benefits.

Can you file for workers compensation if you are injured on the job?

For example, if you are injured on the job, you might qualify for workers’ compensation as an employee, and it is particularly important to file a claim or talk to a lawyer. Every situation is different, and it’s a good idea to talk to a professional. If your concern is with your tax burden, talk to a tax professional.

What does an employment lawyer do?

An employment lawyer can also give you an assessment of your likelihood of prevailing in any of the above options, and the cost for undertaking each of them. You and your lawyer will discuss what you might recover in damages and the attorney fees you may have to pay to pursue those damages.

What happens if you don't get paid for your work?

If your employer has not paid you fully for your work, you may be entitled to penalties and, in some states, attorney's fees, in addition to payment of wages owed.

How many hours can you work overtime?

premium overtime pay for hours worked over the legal straight-hour maximum (over 40 hours in a workweek under federal law; over 8 hours in a workday under some state laws), or . for travel time during the workday that is related to work (and, in some states, certain travel to and from work).

Can you claim unpaid wages?

Wage Claims. You may have a claim for unpaid wages if your employer has failed to pay you: minimum wage. for break time provided by law (or has not allowed you to take required breaks) for "off-the-clock" work. for time you need to put on or take off safety or other work-related gear or uniforms.

Can an employee sue an employer for unpaid wages?

When an employer violates wage and hour laws, an employee often can sue the employer. But, in many situations, the employee may have other options. For example, in some states, you can file a claim for unpaid wages against your employer with the state labor department, which will then hold a hearing to issue a finding on the claim.

Matthew Vernon Silva

I would start by contacting the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. If he is not licensed, you might want to contact law enforcement to see if there is a pattern or history of this kind of thing. If they can find multiple people he has done this to, he could be charged with obtaining property by false pretenses.

Robert Ashley Meynardie

Under contract law you are entitled to recover what you bargained for at the bargained for price. So the answer is multi-layered. You are entitled to the money that you paid for things he didn't do. You can't recover what you paid someone else to do unless you already paid the original contractor for it or it cost more with the replacement.

Douglas E. Portnoy

You would be entitled to the difference between the amount you paid the subcontractor to finish the job and the amount the other contractor would have charged you to finish the job minus what you owed him.

What is unpaid wages?

Your Rights Unpaid Wages. Unpaid wages occur when employers fail to pay employees what they are owed. This is often also referred to as withheld salary or wages. Unpaid wages may occur when your employer fails to pay overtime wages, your employer fails to meet minimum wage requirements, your employer intentionally miscategorized employees in ...

How much do low wage workers lose?

From this study, it was estimated that workers lose an average of $2,634 annually due to these wage violations.

Who enforces FLSA?

The FLSA is enforced by the Wage-Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. Wage-Hour's enforcement of FLSA is carried out by investigators stationed across the U.S., who conduct investigations and gather data on wages, hours, and other employment conditions or practices, in order to determine whether an employer has complied with the law. Where violations are found, they also may recommend changes in employment practices to bring an employer into compliance. The Department of Labor is authorized to supervise the payment of unpaid minimum wages and/or unpaid overtime compensation that is owed to any employee.

Can you take your pay below the minimum wage?

The only requirement under federal law is that if the employer chooses to have you bear the cost of the cash register shortage, the deduction cannot take your pay below the minimum wage and/or reduce your overtime compensation.

What happens if a business files for bankruptcy?

Depending on the basis for the claim, all or some portion may be entitled to "priority" in the bankruptcy process. If your wage claim is entitled to priority, it might result in the claim being paid earlier than other claims or result in a greater prorated distribution than other creditors ultimately receive.

Can you recover overtime under FLSA?

There are several different methods under the FLSA for an employee to recover unpaid overtime wages; each method has different remedies. Wage-Hour may supervise payment of back wages.

What is wage theft?

Wage theft is the illegal underpayment or non-payment of wages owed to workers. Evidence from surveys suggests that wage theft is common and costs workers billions of dollars a year. This transfer of money from low-income employees to business owners is unfair and worsens income inequality while harming workers and their families. Wage theft most often occurs with low-income workers and undocumented immigrant workers. A study found that 26% of low-wage workers were paid less than the minimum wage and found that 76% of workers who worked more than 40 hours were not paid the legally required overtime rate. From this study, it was estimated that workers lose an average of $2,634 annually due to these wage violations. In 2014, the director of the federal Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division stated that his agency had uncovered nearly $1 billion in illegally unpaid wages since 2010. He also noted that the victimized workers had been disproportionately immigrants.

What to do if you are owed money?

If an individual is owed money, and the borrower shows no signs of repaying it, one of the first steps they should take is to send a demand letter for money owed. This is a formal letter that clearly states the circumstances for the loan, the required repayment and a suggestion that taking the issue to court may be an option if ...

Should a demand letter be polite?

Demand letters should be polite and not harass the debtor especially if it is going to a family member or friend of the lender. They will most probably need to maintain a friendly relationship with the borrower. This is why the letter should simply state the facts and not have an emotional tone.

What does a demand letter do?

The letter will demonstrate to the borrower that the lender is serious about wanting their money and it will also serve as evidence if the case needs to go to court. This letter could be the first step in the legal process of recovering debt. In many cases, especially between friends, a demand letter for money owed is all it takes to remind ...

What is the importance of instructions and training?

If you give the workerdetailed instructions on how work is to be done or train the worker to perform tasks in a certain way, the workermay be an employee. A subcontractor does not need or receive detailed instructions or training on how the workshould be done.

What is the first step in an IRS audit?

If, however, it appearsthat your workers should be classified as employees, the first step the auditor will take is to see if the reliefprovisions (under section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978) will limit your liability for the employment tax.