HELP! Legal advice desperately needed!

[Strawfoot]

Greetings,

We are in dire straits with our pool builder. I’ve posted this on another forum, but have come here for advice because I've seen a wealth of very informative individuals on this board, eager to help others with problems. Right now, I need help/advice of a legal sort. I'd be especially grateful for feedback from individuals in the legal professions, or better yet, someone who has dealt with my problem.

Last summer we contracted with a small company, they are an LLC, to build a pool and a cabana in our backyard. It has been one headache after another, getting them to complete the work and also take care of our complaints. We've lately had serious concerns that they would go bankrupt and we'd be out all of our money. As of now, the pool is finally plastered, but the cabana still needs work. The quality of work has not been bad, in fact our yard looks pretty good.

Anyhow, we signed separate contracts for each. My wife and I have made some mistakes throughout this entire ordeal, the biggest of which was losing our original contracts. For weeks we asked for copies, which the PB belatedly provided us with. On the copies they provided, there were some irregularities such as it showing that my wife and I had not signed on the proper line. There were some other pages which we did not initial. I honestly do not remember if these were legitimate gaffes on our part or whether they doctored the copies they gave us. Another mistake we made was not getting changes we later made to our contract written down on an official amendment to the contract.

Primarily, on the pool contract our specs called for the deck to be approx 400 feet of textured concrete. Later, well before decking, we decided to increase our deck size by about double, but to go with a Rainbow Handseed aggregate instead. We computed what we'd already paid for the textured and gave them the additional money needed on top of that. All of this was agreed upon with the PB via email. They even agreed to charge us only $500 over the invoice for the work. We have this in writing on the email. After having initially paid them $3500, we gave them a check for another $3000 for the extra Rainbow Handseed deck. This total also included $900 to put in some 6x6 cedar fence posts for our pool fence. However well before this work was started we changed our plan for the pool fence also. They agreed to this and acknowledge we were due the $900 back.

Anyhow, things were OK for the most part until the deck company showed up a month later to pour the deck. We could not really tell at the time, but I suspected that what we recieved was not Rainbow Handseed aggregate. About another month went by with no work (only a steady stream of promises and excuses) and we got a card on our front door from the decking company, asking that I give them a call. Upon doing so, I was told they had not been paid by our PB according to agreed terms, had no luck at collecting, and would place a lien on our home if WE did not pay them immediately in full. Hedging, I asked them to figure out the best payment plan they could offer and call me back. I also asked for a copy of the invoice. This they agreed to do.

I called the PB and informed them of our problem. They gave some well thought out excuse, promised to take care of the payment, and also complete our job. The plaster crew was out the next week. I'd had advice to not let them plaster the pool until this lien business was settled, but I went ahead and did so anyhow. I figured I really needed that pool plastered as my biggest fear was getting stuck with a half-finished pool if they folded. Surprisingly, they did not ask for a check when they finally came out to plaster. About the last week in December we filled the pool. Speaking with them, I said I would only pay them more money if and when I saw lien releases from all the contractors. One of the owners agreed to this verbally.

A few more weeks went by and we decided to call the deck people. I had not heard back from them, so presumed they had been paid. I was astounded to hear they had NOT been paid, and was informed they had started lien proceedings against my house. They had initially promised not to do so without calling us back. I immediately asked them for a copy of the invoice, which they promptly sent this time.

Upon viewing it, I discovered that the TOTAL decking bill to the PB was only $3400. The material used was PEA GRAVEL (the cheapest form of aggregate), and the square footage poured was about 150 feet less than what we were supposedly to get. Now, I am not sure what happened here, and I know they have to get some sort of mark-up. But our deck does not look like other Rainbow Handseed decks I've seen, and the deck company did confirm that they indeed poured pea gravel. I can't be sure about the square footage, as I never personally measured the work. What I DO know is that there is a significant difference between what we paid for, and what the PB was charged for this deck. There is also a huge discrepancy in the material used and square footage poured. Of course on top of that the PB never paid the subcontractor. Again, we were assured we would only pay $500 over invoice for the total deck job (part of the initial offer was the deck AT COST since we were also building a cabana with them.) We have that in writing on an email.

Despite some issues (our spa leaks, one of our pumps installed was not of the type specified on the contract, and the deck was not properly grouted along the coping) the pool is pretty much complete. In fact, the contract states that it would be considered so at plaster.

Here's the main problem... PB now wants a check for plaster, irregardless of contractor liens, money owed to us for the deck etc. He is claiming that we will be in breach of contract, in fact is already claiming that we are, by not having paid the 5% for plaster when that job was complete. The payment terms are spelled out specifically on the contract. There is also a lot of other nasty contract talk about how they can come and take back our equipment without asking permission if we default. There's not much in there about their obligations other than a statement that PB will supply all liens for subcontractors and/or material used.

My fear is paying these people, and them not paying the plaster people. Not to mention the fact that they haven't paid the deck people, OR that they owe us MORE money for the deck they overcharged us for than the amount of the final plaster installment. I feel like we are thrashing in water as I don't know the legal ramifications of what I am doing. I recieved this call today at 4:00pm, and plan to finally consult a lawyer on Monday. But PB will probably come by the house Monday, so a meeting will undoubtably take place.

My wife and I have been tempted constantly with reporting them to the BBB for BOTH jobs, and will probably do so now. But I also feel I need to get a lawyer's help too. I'll be looking for one on Monday, or maybe researching small claims. But what chances do we have if they declare us in breach of contract and try court action? Does the fact they have not paid their contractors (and we have lien threats against our home) make ANY difference? How do I find out if there IS a lien placed against our house? Even though the additional deck work was not included on an official contract amendment, can that money they owe us play a part? What do we do? Pay them or fight it out in court? I am most assured PB will threaten legal action and also lien action on our home and pool equipment if I refuse plaster payment next week. I just want to be ready for him.

I am DESPERATE, and am counting on the good will I've seen from many of those who serve this forum with their knowledge, expertise, and, most importantly, their experience. I thank those in advance for taking the time to read this lengthy diatribe, and for whatever assistance they may render to my family. I do not trust these people, and honestly feel that if this goes legal my property, home, and welfare of my family will be at stake. I'm willing to fight for what's rightfully mine, but the legal experience and knowledge I need is beyond my scope right now.

With thanks,

Mike

[Pool Owner]

Mike, I’m sorry that you are having such problems. Since this is very much a local problem you may want to provide you geographic location for others to help as well as the name of the pool company because if you are this type of problem I am sure others are too. Also, check with your state contractor licensing board for their assistance/complaint process (here in California it is www(dot)cslb(dot)ca(dot)gov) and other publications. Nolo Press provides self-help books for legal issues and do not forget to check your local library for books. Good luck and I hope you are swimming in your pool this summer.

[all4him]

Hire a lawyer!

[Guest]

I kind of skimmed through your post, but I would have highly recommended not paying for it completely until EVERYTHING was complete and satisfied.
My father is a retired contractor of 35 years in the building trade. And recently had a house built. the contractor he hired (my dad is now retired) didn't do some things to my dad's specifications, and when he came collecting, he held him over a barrel. REsulting in a discount in the price.

I would definitly report them to the BBB, and consult with a lawyer!

[btle29]

I don't know how your contract was written up.. but you have the right to request for lien release of the work when they are done before payment is issue to the actual company(PB) you hired. If PB don't pay their subcontractor even if you alread paid PB for the work in full, you are still screw, the subcontractor can put a lien on you home.

[Guest]

I don't know how your contract was written up.. but you have the right to request for lien release of the work when they are done before payment is issue to the actual company(PB) you hired. If PB don't pay their subcontractor even if you alread paid PB for the work in full, you are still screw, the subcontractor can put a lien on you home.

I would also request to in person see the orginal signed copy rather then having them provide you with a photo copy of the orginals if you think they doctored up the contracts. Eitherway if you signed it and even if it is in the wrong spot I would still consider it a valid contract.

Same thing to the email. If they signed it with a persons name when sending back the confirmation email of the changes with the pricing then they are bound to those terms.

This also shows why you should pay a small up front fee and then pay after each step is agreed upon by both parties in writing when you are talking about something as big of an investment as this.

Sounds like problems I had with my cabinets. After 6 months of BS from the builders they refunded $10,000 of the orginal 20k for the shitty work they did and delays in the project. Didn't mater to them as they just went after the sub contractors.

[Buggsw]

Check with your state/county Registrar of Contractors for advice.