ilted worker punches, threatens man with sledgehammer attack By Erin Smith Thu Jul 10, 2008, 09:20 AM EDT * Tools: * E-Mail * Print * Comments * Share * StumbleUpon * Newsvine * del.icio.us * Digg Somerville - A construction worker felt jilted enough by a deal gone bad that he attacked his former client’s son with a sledgehammer, police said. When Police Officer Alan Monaco responded to 22 Thorpe St. on July 6, a 44-year-old Somerville man told him Somerville resident Gedeon Oliveira had done some work at the victim’s mother’s Thorpe Street house, and there was a disagreement about money. The mother allegedly gave Oliveira $600 and asked him to leave and not finish the job, according to police reports. About two hours later, at about 8:45 p.m., Oliveira alleged returned to Thorpe Street with a sledgehammer and told the man he was going to rip down the work completed at the mother’s house, according to reports. The victim told police he was frightened for his life because of the way Oliveira was swinging the hammer at him. The victim unsuccessfully tried to calm Oliveira, according to police reports. Oliveira then allegedly punched the victim in the head — as the victim’s wife and two teenage sons watched — before leaving the area, police said. Oliveira, 46, of 77 Munroe St., faces charges of assault by means of a dangerous weapon and assault and batteryLetter: The internet is mightier than a sledgehammer Fri Jul 11, 2008, 10:43 AM EDT Somerville - Dear Editor: I read with interest the story of Gedeon Oliveira, the alleged attacker of a client on whose house he worked. While this story of a contractor taking untoward action against a client may be uncommon, the circumstances leading to the attack are not. Client-contractor disputes are all too common because the contractor is the least likely person to afford either the time or the finances to take the civil action against the client, and when he does, the contractor finds unsympathetic ears in court, in the media, or with official agencies. In fact, this man reacted, albeit unwisely, to the climate of the construction business lately. The man obviously felt he had nowhere to turn, therefore Oliveira made a hasty and unwise decision to tear out his unpaid work. Mistakes in this situation abound, and many questions need answers. Had the client properly researched the worker? Was the agreement in writing? Was the worker licensed? Had the contractor researched the client? Was the work hourly, cost plus, or stated price? Were the complaints about the work discussed rationally with the intent to settle? The client has many resources and all of the power because she has the money and owns the property, but the contractor has few avenues. He normally doesn't ask for references. All he knows is that there is work to be done and that he is willing to do it. Because the contractor has had no way to check out a client, or anybody else, we established thecontractorsside.com, a resource website where a contractor, a tradesman, or anyone connected to the construction industry can register a complaint or can check out client, supplier, official, or agency online. What happened between Mr. Oliveira and the client could have been avoided if information on both were readily available. These things happen? They don't need to. If the client were listed as difficult, the contractor could have said "No thanks," and never would have faced the situation. Information is power, and sometimes, it's the power to just say no. Admittedly, thecontractorsside.com weights toward the tradesman, but the site offers the opportunity to answer because an e-mail of notification is automatically generated to person about whom the complaint is posted. The world of construction, as common as it may be, is unfamiliar territory to most clients, but resources are available. It is a different story for the contractor…until now. Lee W. Dodson Owner thecontractorsside.com

We Live in An Amazing Country

 

Where else in the world could we, as independent contractors, ever hope to cut through class, race, or gender limitations and work our trade with honor?

 

The Declaration of Independence is a 232 year old document signed by men who were risking their lives to go against the British establishment. They were telling a king to “go stuff it.” How cool is that?

 

Contractors, in particular, are an independent bunch. We are what the document was all about, but we’ve kinda gotten into the habit of letting “the money” push us around, tell us that we are not the good guys.

 

We ought to think about that. We ought to do some objecting.

 

Remember: if they drive on it, work in it, or live in it, a contractor built it.

 

They want to clean up our business, but they won’t do anything to clean up theirs, so once again, we, who are the producers of a product, must do it for them….and us.

 

The United States of America is a “can-do” country, and we are the “can-do-ers.”

 

We need to keep our independence strong, but to do that we have to get together to share information on the bad boy clients, officials, suppliers who don’t care how they get product. The guy who fired the “shot heard ‘round the world” wasn’t standing there all by himself. There were plenty of others who got together with him and started cleaning the tyrants’ clocks.

 

We are privileged to live in a great country, but that greatness was bought, not only by blood and sweat, it was bought by men and women who stood up, showed their courage, and worked together to clean up somebody else’s mess.

 

We’ve stood by and let others regulate, legislate, and dictate terms long enough.

 

It’s time to take our business back, but we have to do it intelligently by getting information about the problem makers out in front of all of us.

 

This is do-able. All it takes is will.

 

Happy Independence Day to all. It’s a holiday that ranks with the other top three, and besides it’s the perfect break in the middle of the year. May God richly bless you and yours….and your business.

 

Lee W. Dodson

thecontractorsside.com

 

 

 

http://archives.warpradio.com/ltrn/HomeTalk/062811.mp3