As much as I hate what happened to Mel, if I was the judge, I'd have to take the client's side. Mel's cashing the check is an implicit way of accepting the terms of the new agreement (verbal or otherwise).

If at the time Mel decided to accept the half payment he didn't mention anything about retaining source code, there's nothing he can do now.

Of course, the same reasoning applies to the client changing an agreement retroactively by offering Mel only 50% of what he owed, but that's a separate case, and if the courts were to be involved in this to Mel's benefit, that would've been the moment to do it.

I'd just hold on to the source code and wouldn't deliver it until he asks for it and then just delay and delay and delay, exactly like the client did with the payment.

Alex


>>>I am thinking of just deleting the project and not shipping him my source code.
>
>I see you got your half payment.
>
>My advice at this point is to stifle your usual good instincts and NOT ship the source code, ever. You would be rewarding his bad behavior, and that of course, is bad news for the next guy.
>
>If he asks for it, insist on ALL your money.
>Cash the check in person at his bank - don't allow any stop payment nonsense.
>
>If he says you are breaking some agreement, that is exactly right.
>It is the standard of behavior that he set.
>
>If he takes you to court, it would be fun to tell the whole story to the judge.
>
>Best,
>Michael Cummings