Agree with pri_dk here. My experience has been that concrete (sub)contractors, especially, routinely file and serve “lien letters” on every property address their materials were installed in. The recorder’s office keeps those lien letters in a file but does not record them. They are a precursor to a mechanic’s lien if the gen’l who was contracted to do the work does not pay them.
I too feel you will have to sue your general contractor. Contact a real estate attorney to file a limited civil case (if here in SD County). That is the only way to attack this problem and obtain any kind of result, IMHO. If your gen’l does good work and he wants to be able to continue to work, he will not want your lawsuit on his record if it is clean. In the best scenario, perhaps he will be able to settle up with the subs and pay your legal fees in lieu of answering your suit (to make the case go away).
You can also file a complaint with the Contractor’s State License Board (CSLB) simultaneous to suit. They are somewhat inefficient and move very slowly. In the meantime, pursue your suit.
Your refi will likely have to be put on hold.
booter1, did you check this contractor’s record with the CSLB and also his lawsuit record in SD and surrounding counties PRIOR to contracting with him?
If you need a referral to an aggressive RE attorney to handle this matter, please feel free to PM me.
