Legal Question in Business Law in California

What you can (and should) do will largely depend on what your contract says. You should consult with a lawyer and have him review your case with you. Feel free to contact me directly if you would like to discuss your options.

It would seem that you do. In fact, maybe you needed a lawyer at the time you entered into a construction contract that would require 30 subcontractors. Are you familiar with the statutory procedures for preliminary notice and mechanic's lien? In your situation, I'd recommend having at least a free preliminary interview with two or three different lawyers in your area who have substantial experience working for construction contractors. Pick one you like, who seems to understand your problem, competent to represent you, and has the time and interest to take your collection issues seriously and timely.

Are you even licensed? Your question shows a lack of basic construction law that suggests maybe you are not. If you are not a licensed contractor, the owner actually legally has the right to pay you nothing. Even if you are licensed, you seem very naive about pretty much everything to do with construction law. You most definitely should see an attorney in person immediately.

You don't need an attorney if you know how to effectively file a breach of contract based lawsuit and prosecute it through trial, and have the time to do so. Otherwise, feel free to contact me for the legal help you need.