Good luck getting paid if you had nothing in writing.
I went through something rather similar a few years ago. Three of us ran a very successful Internet-based business. I did the programming, my best friend did the sales/marketing, and this other guy owned the corporation and handled all the administrative stuff.
Well that guy got greedy, locked us out of everything, ran the company and took all the money for himself for a while, and then sold it off. I don't know how much it went for, but it was valued well into the six-figure range when we got kicked out.
Our partnership agreement was strictly verbal. All the source code was copyrighted in my name, and we had emails/IM conversations where we all three talked about it being a partnership. Nonetheless every lawyer I talked to either flat-out refused to take the case since nothing was in writing, or offered to take it with a hefty sum up-front and didn't seem very optimistic.
My friend and I have since started up a competing business and it's doing very well. No third parties are involved anymore, for obvious reasons. So it all worked out for the best in the end..but still, not a day goes by when I don't kick myself for not getting things in writing!
Another thing: This guy sounds like a real scumbag. I would talk to a lawyer before taking out any liens. Reason being, with you having nothing in writing and his ability to project this charming good-guy image, it's possible that YOU could get in trouble if a court decided that you were falsely imposing liens on him.
Your best bet would be to track down and talk to other people who he's screwed over. Find out if any of them have any written agreements, and if they've retained an attorney. If so do what you can to join forces. Aside from that or stooping to his level (blackmail, threats, etc.) and likely getting into trouble as a result, you're probably out of options.
Last edited by rearden; 08/16/05 10:32 AM.
