We have a signed time and material agreement. When I billed for the final payment with full documentation to suppor the numbers the owner stated it had taken us too long and he was not willing to pay in full.
The place to start, assuming you have one, is to review your contract with the owner to determine what it provides in the event of a dispute. You will want to follow the contract procedures for the resolution of disputes. That process may involve binding arbitration, nonbinding arbitration, or mediation. If there is no dispute resolution process, and you cannot resolve the issue by negotiating with the owner, then you will likely need to file a lawsuit seeking to collect what you are owed. Of course, as this process moves forward, you will want to make sure you preserve and enforce any available mechanic’s lien rights and claims you have in a timely manner by following the applicable Maine statutes and case law. Acting timely is critical; failure to meet the applicable deadlines, which are strictly enforced, and failing to properly preserve or enforce a mechanic’s lien will mean that lien is lost, and generally that loss will be permanent.