Q: Renovations guy ripped me off and closed his business. How should I procced? What happens if he is hard to locate?
Contracted a business (a man and his son) to do some reno work. Most of what they did is unfinished and now he has closed his business. The work was done in GA, where I also reside, but his business is located in SC. I don't live near the area the work was being done so I asked him to send me pictures as he finished things. He did but he only sent me good angles of the work . I have all receipts and documentation of what was suppose to be completed. Since the work was in GA do I take him to small claims in the county the work was done or where his business is? Will I be asked to provide a work permit if/when this goes to small claims court? He said I didn't need one for the work being done but I don't really trust the guy now.
Thanks for your time.
A: Since the work was done in Georgia but his business is located in South Carolina, you have the option to sue him in the Georgia county where the work was done or in South Carolina. Since you live in Georgia, I would file suit in Georgia as it is most convenient for you. In Georgia, magistrate court (i.e., small claims court), is only permitted to handle cases in which the dispute involves $15,000 or less. If your dispute is greater than that amount, you will need to file suit in state or superior court. The absence of a work permit should not have any impact on whether your case is successful.
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