I am a home owner, who paid for a general contractor to midigate following winter storm Uri in March, I paid him using the first check I recieved during the time before I hired him. Once he finally, after 6 months, provided an estimate to my insurance company they sent a check endorced to myself and the contractor; we both signed and it was agreed that this was my reemburment to be used for construction on my home because he had already been paid via cashier's checks for midigation. One cant repair a home until midigation has been completed. I was checking on my own Tax Id information and decided, our of curiosity, to check his and it showed him as inactive, so I let him know. He had botched my construction and wasnt consistantly working, so this was the last straw. I let him go. We had no contract, now he is bitter and is requesting to be paid again for the amount of the midigation check from the insurance company. He is threatening a lien. How can I protect myself.