THX again....your reply understood...
Most of the basic administrative procedures from the contract were followed to conform to the office payroll schedule as well as the invoicing of customers.
I had no contact with the owner for 8 months as his 20 year marriage ended in a bad divorce and his son ran the business, but made little or no contact with me. I , however, was at the office each week to pick up my check (stamped signature). So as I attempted to live up to the contract, he did no soliciting for business, handleing problems with accounts, van inspections, etc! I basically ran my own methods and procedures!
The insurance (full coverage) being deducted from my check each week, was solely for the purpose of repairing damages incurred by me. Why wasn't I given the option to use it?
During the entire time of working in the van , I made several thousand dollars of repairs to get the equipment running right. The owner made no initial inspection of the condition of the van inside or out. I had a qualified mechanic inspect and recommend repairs to the equipment of over $3,000. This was a mechanic recommended by the owner. He then agreed verbally to share the responsibility of any problems with the van 50/50 and did follow that when the 18hp motor for the cleaning system finally blew up as predicted by the mechanic! He paid $400 of an $800 proposed new engine to be installed into the van, of course he installed only a rebuilt engine from his spare parts shop, and didn't even do that properly. Some 'shade tree' mechanic he knew came in one day to put it in, I worked with him 4 hours doing it and he didn't even have a muffler to install on it, so I had to take it to a muffler shop to have that done and he wanted me to pay for half of that as well!! There is much more unprofessionalism about all this, but i am trying to stay with facts so you can help me if possible!
Tomorrow I will call the lawyer and get the list of damages i am to pay for. I do have a customer who is a lawyer in our city, and he may be able to help me, but i really appreciate your preparing me for dealing with this.....I have never had anything like this to deal with in my 12 years of being a professional, and to think I worked making over $50,000 for this man, I had just winterized the van and completely overhauled the brake system as well as new tires.....?
THX....Ollias