Wages Due to Construction Workers

In January, 2001, Mr. F and four other consturction workers came to LAFLA complaining they had diligently worked remodeling a house in South LA and had not been paid for the last three weeks, even though the house was completed in a job well done.

On investigation, the new owner of the house (who buys probate properties, remodels them, and sells at a profit) and her partner, a real estate agent, had hired an unlicensed contractor, who in turn, brought the five workers to the job. While the unlicensed contractor, the owner, and real estate agent were pointing fingers at each other, our clients were not receiving their promised wages and their families were suffering.

The LAFLA attorney sent a letter to the owner and agent requesting that the workers be paid. The lawyer for the owner responded, vociferously denying that his clients owed any money.

LAFLA recorded a mechanic's lien at the county recorder's office and sent a copy to the attorney, along with another letter stating that without payment to the workers, a suit to foreclose on the lien would be the only option. Three days later, unannounced, our five clients and the real estate agent arrived at our office. The agent had five cashier's checks for the workers and wanted LAFLA to witness the payments.

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