Sewing company for not paying the contractor?

[w_stephan_77]

Hi,

I am a Canadian IT consultant and I was contracted by an american company to work on a project in France. After finishing my work in December 2001, they still have not payed me 40% of what they owe me, claiming that they don't have funds now and they are waiting for their customers to pay them. Since I do not believe what they are saying, I want to sew them, here are my questions:
1) I don't know where their company is based, how can I locate their address (they don't have a website since it is a new and small company), are registered companies officially listed somewhere by any government agencies?
2) Do I have to sew them in the state they are based?
3) Do I have to personaly be in the state where they are to sew them, or can the lawyer represent me?
4) What kind of lawyer do I need, and am I better off using those collection agencies?

Thanks!
Will

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Hi,

I am a Canadian IT consultant and I was contracted by an american company to work on a project in France. After finishing my work in December 2001, they still have not payed me 40% of what they owe me, claiming that they don't have funds now and they are waiting for their customers to pay them. Since I do not believe what they are saying, I want to sew them, here are my questions:
1) I don't know where their company is based, how can I locate their address (they don't have a website since it is a new and small company), are registered companies officially listed somewhere by any government agencies?
2) Do I have to sew them in the state they are based?
3) Do I have to personaly be in the state where they are to sew them, or can the lawyer represent me?
4) What kind of lawyer do I need, and am I better off using those collection agencies?

Thanks!
Will

My response:

If you want to "sew" them, you'll need buttons and pinking shears, with good bobbins on your sewing machine.

However, if you wish to "sue" the company and the principles, you'll need to know where they are located. You'd also need to sue them in their State because that's where their business and money are located.

More importantly, at least preliminarily, before you decide to sue, you'll need to know their Statute of Limitations for their State, on contracts. Also, depending on the length of the contract, and the amount of the contract, I can only hope that you had something in writing from them about your duties, and the amount you'd be paid. If you didn't, you might also run afoul of their State "Statute of Frauds."

Good luck in your "hunt" for them, and then suing them.

IAAL