Independent Contractor Not Paid

[patty16]

So a little update.

The owner and VP have been saying they'll pay some debt to people who come in to work and have asked me to work upcoming days numerous times. This makes no sense to me.

Anyway, the owner called me tonight and told me they're trying to figure out a plan but I had two options:

1. Work and get paid some debt they owe me and the day rate.
2. Don't work and wait a long time to see any money.

At that point I told him I filed papers. He told me I'd never win, he'd drag it out, I'll never see the money, I'll never ever work for that company again, etc. He told me to think it over.

At this point with that attitude it may be time to just hire an attorney?

 

[quincy]

So a little update.

The owner and VP have been saying they'll pay some debt to people who come in to work and have asked me to work upcoming days numerous times. This makes no sense to me.

Anyway, the owner called me tonight and told me they're trying to figure out a plan but I had two options:

1. Work and get paid some debt they owe me and the day rate.
2. Don't work and wait a long time to see any money.

At that point I told him I filed papers. He told me I'd never win, he'd drag it out, I'll never see the money, I'll never ever work for that company again, etc. He told me to think it over.

At this point with that attitude it may be time to just hire an attorney?

You could consult with an attorney or have an attorney help you with your lawsuit. If the employer knows an attorney is involved, he might suddenly find the money he owes you and pay you before the court date.

I personally think his threat that you will "never ever work for that company again" is a pretty funny threat actually. Who wants to work for a company that does not pay its workers?

 

[patty16]

You could consult with an attorney or have an attorney help you with your lawsuit. If the employer knows an attorney is involved, he might suddenly find the money he owes you and pay you before the court date.

I personally think his threat that you will "never ever work for that company again" is a pretty funny threat actually. Who wants to work for a company that does not pay its workers?

I did laugh on the phone when he said that.

I may contact my cousin's husband who is an attorney today to see what he recommends or if he can offer a little help. My concern is this thief does somehow win or drag it out for months and months, this is a very large national business so I'm assuming they have some good attorneys on retainer.

 

[LdiJ]

I did laugh on the phone when he said that.

I may contact my cousin's husband who is an attorney today to see what he recommends or if he can offer a little help. My concern is this thief does somehow win or drag it out for months and months, this is a very large national business so I'm assuming they have some good attorneys on retainer.

Is it possible that the specific company you have been working for is a franchise of the large, national business? While a large, well known, national business might be slow in paying invoices, the current behavior being displayed by whomever you are talking to does not fit with a large, national business, but it might fit with a franchisee.

 

[quincy]

Is it possible that the specific company you have been working for is a franchise of the large, national business? While a large, well known, national business might be slow in paying invoices, the current behavior being displayed by whomever you are talking to does not fit with a large, national business, but it might fit with a franchisee.

Or a large national business that is going out of business, perhaps.

patty16, if you have an attorney in the family, it wouldn't hurt to ask his opinion. If he does not live or is not licensed in your state, however, he will not be of much help to you in court.

 

[patty16]

Not a franchise, just a big business that is probably indeed going out of business but the owner refuses to acknowledge that so he would rather watch it burn.

 

[quincy]

Not a franchise, just a big business that is probably indeed going out of business but the owner refuses to acknowledge that so he would rather watch it burn.

We have had a few large businesses close in Michigan in the past and, in some cases, the first indication employees had of the closing was when they reported to work and found a notice on the door saying "CLOSED."

Your lawsuit against the company now stands to be the best way for you to get paid what you are owed. If the company is, in fact, planning to close its doors forever, you might find yourself at the head of a long line of creditors trying to collect what is owing.

Again, you can consult with your relative who is an attorney to learn best how to handle the lawsuit. Good luck.