Hi, I will get to the point fast. I hired a contractor in Santa Monica CA on 8/16/17 and fired him on 8/19/17. The only day there was labor was on 8/18/17 for 4 hours before the SM city code enforcer shut the job down. 5 rooms were partially demoed. The contractor on 8/4/17 the day he had me sign his contract demanded $7,000.00 dollars. He told me to write one check was for $1,000.00 and post-date the second check in the amount of $6,000.00 (both checks were written on 8/4/17 before any work commenced). CA law states he was only allowed to take 10% or $1,000.00 whichever is less. His contract was for $40,000. Here is what the contractor did to get fired in such a short period of time. He hired 6 unlicensed workers and had no workers comp, took $7,000.00 before any work started was was legally allowed to only ask for $1,000.00, worked without demo permits, flooded the first floor which then poured into the basement, got a $500.00 a day fine from the city of Santa Monica if permits are not issued within 2 weeks of being shut down( my fine), contractor received his own $500.00 dollar fine for working without permits, damaged lath and plaster in the hallway, damaged an asbestos pipe in kitchen, exposed black mold after demo in the guest bathroom but did not notify me nor protect the area from exposing my house from mold spores (did not put plastic up to protect the rest of the house) . My damages for flooding my house came to $6,500.00. The contractor refused to give me any of my $7,000.00 back but instead put a mechanics lien on my house Sept 11,2017 which expired Dec 12, 2017. His lien was fraud. He shows in his final bill the only labor costs was for the 4 hours $958.00. No material was ever dropped off at my house and the only home improvements were the 4 hours on 8/18/17 with the 6 unlicensed men he hired. CA law says if a contractor hires unlicensed workers with no workers comp he invalidates his own lic. So the truth is he can not ask for labor costs. His lien was for renting 2 apartments, gas for his car, buying office supplies, measuring 5 windows before he was allowed to work and claiming that I was firing him for convenience and not negligence. His lien was for $5,958.42. In the 90 days, the contractor did not foreclose nor ask for an extension. The lien has now expired and I'm going to arbitration with this contractor but now he wants $6,500.42. He told his bond company he wouldn't remove it until he was paid or wait until the arbitrator decides. My attorney said I need to start to have this fraudulent lien expunged now and not wait for the arbitrator. My question is if the lien has expired can he still be award any of this money or is this now over since he didn't file a lawsuit? Thank you for your time! Melissa