All Dan Benjamin wants is his money.
Benjamin, a contractor who owns Sundance Contracting, did some work in 2006 and 2007 for Michelle Wu, wife of Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) and then an interior decorator on Capitol Hill.
Benjamin, who has done work for CNN's Paul Steinhauser, D.C. Superior Court Judge Noel Johnson and D.C. City Councilman Tommy Wells's chief of staff, was named one of the best contractors in D.C. in 2009 by the Washington City Paper's readers.
He says Wu approached him to do "substantial renovation" in her residence, as well as some carpentry in her office and some work for a mutual client. The work for Wu, Benjamin says, was about $12,000.
"She bounced checks to me," Benjamin tells Shenanigans. "She promised to pay me back, and she never did. I [had to] take her to court to get a judgment, and I still have not gotten paid," he says.
The D.C. Superior Court ruled that Wu - who didn't show up - owes Benjamin $10,652.45, according to a copy of the judgment. That's $9,263.00 plus $1,389.45 for late fees. (He's willing to cut his losses on the remainder.)
The rest of the story involves Benjamin's subsequent (as yet unsuccessful) attempts to collect from Wu the money the court says is his due. DC is a small town for those who live there, so the chase involved moments like this:
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