Wright v. Issak
After a dispute concerning an incomplete home remodeling job, plaintiff, contractor sued defendants, homeowners Ghyath Issak and Barbara Weber, for breach of contract and related causes of action. He sought recovery of approximately $11,000. Defendants answered by principally alleging that plaintiff was not a licensed contractor. (Bus. & Prof. Code, 7031, subd. (a) [unlicensed contractor may not sue for unpaid work that requires a license].) They also filed a cross-complaint for fraud and related causes of action. They principally sought reimbursement of the amount paid to plaintiff. ( 7031, subd. (b) [person may sue unlicensed contractor to recover compensation paid for work that requires a license].) After an unreported court trial, the trial court found for defendants on the complaint and cross complaint. It awarded defendants approximately $27,000 in reimbursement plus $10,000 in punitive damages. It later added to the award $90,000 in contractual attorney fees and approximately $7,000 in costs. On appeal, plaintiff contends that the trial court erred as a matter of law by finding that he was an unlicensed contractor. Court affirm the judgment.
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