mthedude
04-09-2007, 09:03 AM
I'm having a contractor dispute in which my contractor did poor work and walked off the job, refusing to fix what was done incorrectly. I adv'd I would hold payment until the job was either done, or until I obtained estimates to find out how much it would cost me to fix what he had screwed up. He didn't accept either offer and said I have to pay the full amount less $300 for the damaged/defective materials, or I can deduct $500 for the damage/defective materials, plus labor. The only problem w/that is his estimate does not specifically spell out how much each job he did was costing me. Along w/that, he is not taking into account the other things that need fixed and will require me paying someone to finish/fix. He has advised he will be filing a lien if I don't accept either offer. I am considering taking him to small claims court to let a judge decide what is fair, and was wondering if he does file the lien and is found to be "in the wrong", will he need to either ammend the amount of the lein or terminate the lein alltogether? This is Iowa law, and if it matters, his contract did not have any lien clause written in. I've read that if he files the lien in bad faith, he opens himself up to legal problems that I may act upon. Thanks for any advice/help.