Chapter 13 - Meridian intervenes
Meridian Trust Company petitioned court for instructions.
They wanted:
Declaration of lien validity.
Authority to pay innocent subcontractors directly if necessary.
Confirmation that Lysander’s personal renovation agreement could not grant equity in trust property.
Protection against Cross Atelier threatening foreclosure on unsupported claims.
Judge Samantha Keene issued temporary order:
No foreclosure while accounting proceeded.
Meridian posts bond/reserve for potentially valid lien amount.
No sale or encumbrance of Greyhaven without court approval during dispute.
That meant Wilhelmina could not use a rushed foreclosure process as leverage.
Then Cross Atelier counterclaimed:
Breach of contract.
Unpaid management fees.
Equitable lien.
Unjust enrichment.
Appendix H damages.
Not all frivolous.
Cross had done work.
Greyhaven benefited.
I requested more than trustee-approved scope.
Some bills remained unpaid.
The court would have to distinguish:
Real contract rights.
Inflated leverage.
Then subcontractors.
Meridian paid verified undisputed amounts directly after obtaining releases:
HVAC subcontractor:
$38,000.
Electrical:
$41,500 after adjustment.
Stone:
$27,800.
Other trades:
$49,700 combined.
Total direct:
$157,000.
Those payments reduced any Cross claim.
No innocent worker waited years because I wanted to punish Wilhelmina.
That mattered to me.
It mattered to the judge too.
Then Cross argued direct payments violated their contract.
Maybe.
Court reserved.
Civil litigation is rarely emotionally satisfying.
May you like
It turns rage into exhibits.
That was probably healthy.
