New Maryland Law Makes General Contractors Liable for Unpaid Wages Owed by Sub-Contractors

As of October 1, 2018, under a new law, general contractors in the construction industry are liable for wage theft by their sub-contractors.  General contractors are liable regardless of whether they control the sub-contractor's employees.   This new law broadens the possible defendants in a claim under the Wage Payment and Collection Law.  An employee in the construction industry may file for a lien, and may sue his direct employer, the individual owner of the company he or she works for, and - now - the general contractor.  The Law allows for triple damages and attorney's fees if the employee can prove that wages were withheld in bad faith.