Non Payment of Wages from a Sub-Contractor for City

[Sulynne]

My question involves independent contractors in the state of: Illinois

Last May I took a job from a good long time friend. He hired me to work on a project that he was contracted out to do for the city. His contract business is a small start up and he didn't have the funds to pay me until he got paid out on the job. He paid me out 50% of the job that ended in late 2010. I found out from another contractor that the city made a final payment on the job to him back in February. He has avoided me and my phone calls and owes me a lot on this job that was completed.

What can I do to get my final payout? It's a lot of money to walk away from, and I don't have any money to hire an attorney, since I have not been working all year.

[cbg]

Does the amount that he owes you fall within the limits of small claims?

[Sulynne]

He owes me over $20k, so it falls outside small claim limits.