Legal Question in Business Law in California

Self Representation in Civil Suit Against Contractor

Due to financial strains I am preparing represent myself and my wife in Civil court to attempt to have a fraudulent lien removed, recover addtional costs and possible punitive damages from a contractor who bidded, submitted a proposal to us and signed and temporarily worked on our home before being terminated for working on a suspended license with no Workers Comp insurance. We paid him $1,000 down on the proposal and he refuses to return the money or pay the difference of the amount it cost us to have the work done and what he had bid to do it. I have already filed with the contractors board and it is under investigation and also I have filed with his bond company although they are slow to responding. We have all documentation that would prove what I am saying. I am not an attorney but with the cost of hiring one I have no other choice at this point. What do I need to do to properly prepare and by doing so what are my chances of winning?live in Stockton


Asked on 1/07/09, 8:07 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Sam Stamas Law Office of Samuel G. Stamas

Re: Self Representation in Civil Suit Against Contractor

Their is a lot you'd need to do and it depends on where you are in the process. Based on your summary, you appear to be in a good position with respect to having the lien removed. The rest of the details are a little fuzzy regarding your punitive damage claim and costs.

I realize you are financially strained but suing someone in a construction case is a complicated business. You may want to pay an attorney just to help you organize your case and prepare documents for you to appear.

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Answered on 1/07/09, 12:46 pm


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