I had a contractor boyfriend who was to go in business with my fix and flip company. I was forced to end the relationship due to the abuse and also refused to bring him into my business. He threatended to take everything from me and since has started the process. I am to be closing my flip investment on the 12th of this month and I use my primary residence (which is free and clear) as collateral on the down payment and then pay it back at the end of the flip. Andrew (ex) knows all of this and has placed a fictitious lien on my property. I have plenty of witnesses to stand up for what is right here (some are his friends who disagree with his antics) to prove this is false and I also have many text messages to substantiate my truth and his dishonest placement of this lien. I just lost 100K today by beig forced to cancel this fix and flip loan due to his lien placed a couple days ago. What do I do?
Hi Sheri,
You shoud hire an attorney to help you get Andrew out of your hair. It sounds like what he is trying to do is called "litigation abuse" where a ex-partner tries to retaliate after a breakup by abusing the legal system to harass you. If the lien he filed against your property is fraudulent, then he could actually get himself into legal trouble. You may have grounds to sue him, but only an attorney licensed in your state could tell you for certian. However, if you do not take legal action against his harassment, his harassment will likely escalate (statistically speaking). You may also want to consider getting a restraining order against him.
Here is a list of lawyers in Iowa: https://www.levelset.com/payment-help/experts/construction-lawyer/iowa/ Call one or a few of these attorneys directly and explain your situation, then pick one to represent you. This forum is public so it is not place to discuss a sensitive legal issue like this, it is best that you discuss this with a lawyer in private. I hope this all works out for you.