Legal Question in Business Law in New Jersey

Non Payment of work

I have been doing contract work for the past year, under a verbal agreement. I have been paid for every month including expenses except for the last 4 months. Now they would like to change the terms of the agreement, going back to the past 4 months without telling us until now. I have emails from them from the last 2 months promising to pay but still nothing. I have continued to work with no payment and without any guarantee that I will be paid for this months work. I worry that if I stop working for them I will not see the money I am owed. Where do I stand and what can I do.


Asked on 7/15/09, 8:40 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys
Jef Henninger, Esq Law Offices of Jef Henninger, Esq.

Re: Non Payment of work

If you call me at 732/247/3340, I can refer you to a good attorney.

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Answered on 7/15/09, 9:47 pm
John Corbett Corbett Law Firm LLC

Re: Non Payment of work

My experience with this fact pattern is that the contractor or employee never gets paid unless legal pressure is brought to bear. To paraphrase Jay Foonberg, when given a choice between working and not getting paid and not working and not getting paid, always choose not to work because it is more fun. If you haven't gotten paid in four months, it's not likely that you will get paid. Find another client with your free time and give the collection of back fees to a lawyer who does business and collection work.

My firm handles matters of this type, however the efficiencies in this matter may be influcenced by your lawyer's location.

See also: http://info.corbettlaw.net/lawguru.htm

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Answered on 7/15/09, 11:58 pm
Walter LeVine Walter D. LeVine, Esq.

Re: Non Payment of work

I agree with John, that this will probably require some collection litigation to resolve. It is made harder by the fact there is only a verbal agreement, and anticipate there will be more than 2 sides to what was agreed to. Giving free services will always result in your being requested to do more work. I agree that you should cut your losses by not doing more work and hope by suing that you get something on what you are owed.

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Answered on 7/16/09, 4:16 pm


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