Menu
Home>Levelset Community>Legal Help>We had to stop a job in the middle because the client wasn't paying, we don't know what to do

We had to stop a job in the middle because the client wasn't paying, we don't know what to do

Utah

We are a general contractor. We started a job with a property management company. They didn't pay us. We stopped working. What do we now do?

3 replies

Jun 16, 2020
I would go back to your original contract with the property management company and see what dispute resolution process is specified there, then file a claim through that process. You can also file a lien, if you processed all the required documentation to keep your lien rights intact (preliminary notices, etc). Other options would include small claims court or filing a lawsuit in civil court (depending on the amount owed). Check your contract first, though.
0 people found this helpful
Helpful
Jun 16, 2020
Your remedies are statutory-based and contract-based. Certain actions are generally required to preserve all of those remedies. Some of those actions are more urgent than others. Additionally, stopping work due to non-payment may not be the best course of action. You should seek guidance from an attorney familiar with Utah construction law to know for certain what actions you should take. Additional information that will be needed includes the time frame of construction, the type of construction, the terms of agreement between the parties, whether you have filed a preliminary notice, and what the circumstances of non-payment are.
0 people found this helpful
Helpful
Jun 17, 2020
I'm sorry you are not being paid.
If you filed a timely preliminary notice on Utah's State Construction Registery your next step is to record a notice of lien with the county recorder. If not, your lien rights are lost, but either way you still have the right to sue the party that hired you for the money you are owed.
Good luck!
0 people found this helpful
Helpful