Baton Rouge, LA asked in Consumer Law and Criminal Law

Q: How do I defend myself against a charge of contractor fraud?

I own a bathroom remodel business. I signed a contract with a client to remodel two bathrooms along with the kitchen, living room, and dining room of a double wide trailer. I collected 3/4 of the total of bid up front. There were many other things that the client wanted to change once work began. I started demoing and found all kind of added expenses. One being the floor rotted and mold everywhere. Once COVID-19 shut everything down, I could not go work every day. The client harassed me about being there every day. I told the client because of all of the extra things that had to be addressed, I needed more money to finish the project. I basically worked on this project for free because I can itemize the expenses for the money I received. They told me to not come back on the property. Now, they have filed a charge with the sheriff's department for contractor fraud. The charges are not by the person that signed the contract. I need representation because I have not committed fraud.

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1 Lawyer Answer
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
Answered
  • Little Neck, NY

A: A Louisiana attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. It does not sound like you committed from from your description; it sounds like it the job confronted you with unforeseen complications that you did not anticipate and that may not have been addressed in your contract. You say you need representation. You could go to the Find-a-Lawyer tab above and contact local attorneys, or you could search for attorneys on your own. Try to gather records of your communications, work logs, or anything else you think could be useful for an attorney in reviewing your matter. Good luck

Tim Akpinar

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