But It Should Fit!

[Portellia]

Also, make sure to document thoroughly which dress is paid for and which is only 70% done so if it should come to "This one's paid for so it goes to X" the correct one comes back to you.

[RayvenQ]

Thankfully my latest "customer" who I'm doing chainmail for is easy going and so willing to work with me (I say "customer" because it's actually a gift for someone who i watch their roleplay streams a lot) although one challenge is I'm doing it from their measurements alone, but as it turns out, I have pretty close measurements to hers as luck would have it.

[protege]

By asking 75% up front you get rid of most of the scammers and cheapskates who leave you with an expensive job that you were not paid for. Even if this woman had walked away I am betting the OP only loss would be the waste of time and possibly making a profit on a different commission.

Having to put some cash down usually gets rid of the scammers and cheap bastards. I don't build models for people...unless they're willing to put some money down, and by "some money down" I mean a 50% check, and the project isn't even started until the check clears. I don't build things for people often, because I did get stung on a Bugatti EB110--possibly the *ugliest* car ever to wear that badge!

I put my policy into place after the customer refused to pay for the car. By then, it was half-done, and I'd put a lot of time and work into it. I did finish it eventually, and put it into my own collection. Still, it turned me off onto the idea of building things for people.

[EricKei]

Ayyup. As others have said, just do whatever your attorney says to do. If these people attempt to contact you in any way, refer them to the attorney and say you're not allowed to deal with them, specifically because lawyers are involved.

[Seshat]

Check with your lawyer, but yes, I believe that subpoenad things (as opposed to people/animals/etc) become in the custody of the court, to then be returned to their owners.
In this situation, until paid for, you're the owner.


Side issue: an experienced dressmaker will have ideas about dressing pregnant women. It's an issue that comes up often enough for them to have plenty of practice.
And yes, empire line is often a very good solution.

[Ironclad Alibi]

If you received a subpoena for the dresses, then they are evidence. If they are evidence, do not make any changes to them, including additional work.

IANAL. I would think that since they are subpoenaing the dresses as evidence, then when they are no longer needed as evidence they should be returned to you. They are still your property until they have been paid for.

[Dave1982]

They don't have to match perfectly. I don't want to derail the thread with a long story but 2 of the girls are wearing different dresses. I'll PM a pic

*Back to your regularly scheduled thread*

[taxguykarl]

Argus is right, it seems. Spoke to a lawyer and she said to just document everything (kind of thankful I made the post here, gave a time stamp) and halt work. I don't have to GIVE UP the dress, just she has asked for it in a legal fashion.

Good call on that. Next time you meet with the lawyer, do ask about payment.

Moreover, so tempted to call "The Husband" and see if he needs a beer and a shoulder, but afraid it'll just put us deeper in the legal quagmire.

DANGER!! WARNING!! Keep them both at arms lengthCome to think of it: Until the dust settles, direct all interactions with them to your lawyer. You wil be tap dancing in a legal minefield otherwise.

[XCashier]

(Hell, I'm nervous about one of the bridesmaids at my wedding, because she needs to go get measured very soon to ensure the dress will be ready in time, but she is going to be about 8 months pregnant come the wedding date. I don't know how that's going to work, as far as making the dress fit goes.)

What do the dresses look like? If they don't have to match perfectly, you might consider giving hers an empire waist.

[SilverOrb]

Gym Spandy(X) to the rescue!

Wouldn't a tight, compressing fabric be a very bad idea for a pregnant woman?

[dalesys]

... she is going to be about 8 months pregnant come the wedding date. I don't know how that's going to work, as far as making the dress fit goes.)

Gym Spandy(X) to the rescue!

[Dave1982]

I somehow missed this thread when it first started. At best that woman is dangerously ignorant. I mean she is was married....did she not have a wedding dress? (Yes, I know she might've gotten married at the courthouse or some other scenario that didn't involve a wedding dress. But considering she and her ex-husband were well enough off to be able to afford TWO $5000 custom dresses, I doubt they had an austere wedding) Does she not remember how many times you need to get one of those fitted and altered to be just right? This gown you were making sounds as complex as a wedding gown. Why did she think this would be any different?

(Hell, I'm nervous about one of the bridesmaids at my wedding, because she needs to go get measured very soon to ensure the dress will be ready in time, but she is going to be about 8 months pregnant come the wedding date. I don't know how that's going to work, as far as making the dress fit goes.)

Ugh...just ugh....what a fucking loon. Not that it makes your life easier but it's probably for the best that her husband is divorcing her.

[Gilhelmi]

Dang, that really sucks. I have no words to convey.

I hate it when lawyers have to get involved. At least you have a contract in place (not sure if it is only a oral or a written one, though ex-husband will probably testify to what the contract was if verbal).

I hope you get paid, better never have to see her again.

[Argus]

I don't have to GIVE UP the dress, just she has asked for it in a legal fashion.

Similarly, when a subpoena is issued to a person rather than a piece of evidence, that person has to show up in court as a witness, but they get to return to their own home afterwards.

Dress is pretty much done, just cleaning up stuff like trimming loose threads and a bit of seam trimming.

Make sure the documentation included the date on which you expected to deliver the finished dress. If/when the dress is submitted as evidence, you will probably need to clarify that final steps such as that trimming would have been done between October 27 and [delivery date], but it was halted by the subpoena.

[FerrousBueller]

Argus is right, it seems. Spoke to a lawyer and she said to just document everything (kind of thankful I made the post here, gave a time stamp) and halt work. I don't have to GIVE UP the dress, just she has asked for it in a legal fashion. It's confusing and left my head hurting.

Dress is pretty much done, just cleaning up stuff like trimming loose threads and a bit of seam trimming.

This... sucks. Literally so angry I feel feverish.

Moreover, so tempted to call "The Husband" and see if he needs a beer and a shoulder, but afraid it'll just put us deeper in the legal quagmire.