Replies

1. 
   jjwalters | Nov 21, 2003 03:22pm | #1

   Very good.........and a warning to all you guys out there who dream of going big time in shark infested waters. I have heard this same story a zillion times.

   overextend for the 'big' money, do your absolute best ........and take a head shot from some azzhole GC in a three piece suit.........

   sometimes they go belly up and emerge from under their rock with another name.........sometimes they just take the money and run...........

   ALL the times they are looking for the young and gullible to feed on................

   There are fast carpenters who care..... there are slow carpenters who care more.....there are half fast carpenters who could care less......
2. 
   PenobscotMan | Nov 21, 2003 07:50pm | #2

   What a horrible story! But shouldn't Patty have stood by her man?

1. 
   deadmanmike | Nov 21, 2003 09:32pm | #4

   javier: Good point, same occured to me.

   Zano: thanks for posting that wake-up call.

   Mike

2. 
   Zano | Nov 22, 2003 02:27am | #5

   Javier,

   I read it that Patty had to move in with her sister cause they were selling their house and John got a job - no mention of divorce! Just a temporary separation until they got on their feet again - that's the way that I read it.

   -----

   Happy to post this and I hope that at least I saved one family! 

   Yes, GC's are sharks, be careful in commercial work and glad Mike that you appreciated the article.

   ----------

   Remember:  "Stay small and keep it all."

1. 
   poorsh | Nov 22, 2003 03:56am | #6

   Hi Zano

   How many times have we signed a document without really understanding the terms and conditions. Mortgage, car/truck lease, rental agreement, insurance policy? This has been one of my pet bugbears for years. Get the proper advice BEFORE YOU SIGN!

   Sorry for shouting.

   Mac

2. 
   ccal | Nov 22, 2003 04:11am | #7

   Would a contract that requires you to continue work after not being paid according to the original terms really be enforcable? I cant imagine staying on a job where someone owes you 100 grand and starts giving you the runaround. Its a good story and hopefully will help somebody, but I cant help but believe it has at least been exagerated quite a bit.

1. 
   JeffBuck | Nov 22, 2003 06:24am | #9

   I read that story in the mag ...

   scary.

   But I thought the same thing ...

   I'd not be working that far under..... not anywhere close.

   I'd rather find myself in front of the judge explaining how he can't force me to work for free than standing in front of the bankrupcy court.

   JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

        Artistry in Carpentry                

2. 
   Zano | Nov 23, 2003 02:07am | #10

   Yes, these contracts are valid and enforceable.  The GC will not backup the owner with his money because he does not have title to the property, nor do GC's have that kind of money.  These "paid when paid" contracts are dominant in commercial work.  If the owner goes under, the bank or financial institution takes the money; the subs are last in line for hardly anything.  This story is not an exagerration - it does happen.

   Remember "a contract is a contract is a contract"; so be careful what you agree to.

3. 
   migraine | Nov 21, 2003 08:56pm | #3

   Sounds like the GC and client were in cahootz

4. 
   Shep | Nov 22, 2003 04:32am | #8

        Thats scarier than anything Steven King could dream up. So many of us want to see the best in people it sometimes blinds us. We're so intent on doing a good job that we don't always deal with the  business end ( at least thats my experience )