re: NOLA Contractor, LSU Grad, Arrested in 2 Parishes

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People live off of the business instead of paying themselves a salary and live within the means of the salary is the biggest issue. You can't take a 200k check for payment of services and think you instantly have 200k of expendable income.

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This.

In addition to overspending personally they think because they just did a project or two they need to go out and buy an F350 for the business as well.

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Seems to be more common with contractors though

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I can see how. If they have a dozen custom homes in various stages at one time that is a lot to keep organized and could quickly get away from you if you don't have tight controls in place.

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1) Drugs have to be involved in some capacity.

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Gambling addict

I still don't see how spreading himself thin is the issue. He still had money coming in from all the people building houses with him. His issue had to be spending, whether it is gambling, drugs, or other toys. Hope they make him sell his new house (should be worth 800-1 million) and pay everyone the money owed.

If I hire a GC and he pulls something like this, can't the subs lien my house if they haven't been paid for for work they performed?

Or can they only sue the GC?

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Then you went to school with my gf at airline.

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What year did your gf graduate? Airline c/o 99 here. Thought that dude looked familiar.

They can use the homeowner. I also think this probably happens mainly to people with a bad BS radar. Most people can probably smell this guy coming. I imagine he talks a lot about how awesome he and his work is and talks himself in circles in general. People skills will keep you away from shady guys 9/10 times.

He could have also been using money from current jobs to pay material bills on past jobs and it all caught up to him.

I have seen it happen. Some contractors live on credit using their customers money and it eventually catches up to them. Instead of treating each job as the individual job that they are and not commingling the funds they throw it all together and lose track.

It will get you eventually.

There are also the ones that play big shot too fast. They build a few houses and next thing you know they have a full office with a staff and overhead. They usually don't last long. My office is my truck and has been for years. No need to take on unnecessary expenses that you can't meet when things slow down. Of course I learned this the hard way but I never stole from anyone to learn that lesson either.

Sometimes they come in with a good rep and flake on you though.

Sounds like this numbnuts was at one point a decent GC. He could've passed the vetting process. Then he pulled these thefts.

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Or can they only sue the GC?

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They can file a lien on your house and pursue you and the contractor but I don't think any judge would hold the homeowner responsible in this case.