GALLATIN, TENN. — I just received my copy of this month's CONTRACTOR, and I was utterly shocked to read the story written by Robert Mader ("Builder tells subs to cut prices midcontract," March, pg.7).

I have been in our family-owned mechanical contracting business for 18 years, and I would hate to think that the builder/sub relationship has degraded to this level. It is absolutely absurd that a builder or GC would come back and "strong arm" its subs in this way. I mean come on, the builder wants lower priced invoices resubmitted for work already completed??!! This is money that the subs have already spent, wages already paid, fuel already burnt. How is it the subs' burden to carry if the builder can't sell the houses for the profits he was expecting?

This seems to be a very illegal action being taken by Lennar Corp. Just how binding is a contract if options such as these are legal for the builder or GC? This stinks all over.

I would sincerely hope those guys out there would band together and stop this before it ever gets started. This is a very slippery slope that will only result in companies going under and substandard workmanship.

DANNY DESHLER
Project Manager/Estimator
Deshler Mechanical Contractors