Quick question if I may : Hello and good afternoon, I am a self employed, home repair and handyman, with 18 years of experience doing just about every trade under the roof. I have never in my years had a problem getting paid.. Its not because of the quality of job in question, but the error of those higher up the chain. My friend and colleague is an interior painting contractor, up until recently had only done re-paints and remodeling.. Never new construction.. I myself, while in Florida, started my painting background exclusively in high end new construction and complete remodeles.. So I know my way around, and the sequence of steps.. Long story short, my friend hired me as hourly help, to consult, train, and lead a crew on his first new construction with a builder/owner he had just met. I told him how to bid, he didn't listen, he went nuts on the builder's paint store account, including buying an $1100 rig, three draws later, he says no more money, and we are just barely past half way, mostly because the builder changes color schemes, trim carpenters scuff up our already done work, tile and cabinets etc, even after pleading we want to be last ones working, but builder insisted forward progress.. My friend promises to pay me to continue, lays off two helpers. All our tools are stolen, including 4 extention ladders.. I put in 71+ hours, what I actually wrote down, and when he says builder refused to read negotiate because of additional work due to no fault of ours, we had no choice but to walk.. Well, my friend still has the rig.. Never offered to pay me even a little bit.. Its been a month, and I really hit a rut needing to get paid for that two weeks, or $994...who or how to go about it? Is 1099 helper considered sub subcontract or an employee ? Is the builder responsible, he is also the property owner, being the sign for sale by builder, or my friend that is ignoring me responsible. Just shy of snatching the paint rig, but I am sure that will only create more problems. I have a decent reputation. Only one bad review in my career, so I want to do this quietly and correctly, but also I need to be paid.. I can't let it go.. I don't have the ability, while he rolls out of town every week, and I know, he has shared, the kind of money my help has created.. By paying me $14 an hour and billing me at $30.. Then I ask for his help on a small job, and he wants $100 for two hours to load some old furniture for a dumb run.. He has since stopped responding to my calls or messages.. Thanks for any guidance you can give me, Baffled in Chattanooga