Papale's Painting

We signed the contract with Mr. Papale, the painter on May 8, 2011 with the job beginning on May 9, 2011. He requested partial payment up front, 2nd payment when room wall were all painted and the balance upon completion. He estimated the job would take about 7 or 8 days to complete. Initially he appeared very professional, arriving promptly, prepping the walls for painting and putting in a full days work (9:00 am to 4:00 pm). We were asked to purchase additional paint because he said the walls needed more coats than he estimated. We purchased eleven more gallons of paint, but was pleased with the results of having freshly painted walls with color accents. The following week, mr. Papale called to say he could not come in because of his sinuses. That same week he left early, stating he had an appointment for his son. He is also a smoker and took numerous (too many to count) smoke breaks throughout the day. On May 26, 2011, after cashing the cash for his 2nd payment installment, I received a call from Mr. Papale stating, he could not finish the job because his ex wife is sick and he has to care for his son. He stated he had another reparable painter coming to our home today who has agreed to finish the job for us for the balance we owed him. When he came by to pick up his equipment, I asked him to call the other painter so I could confirm the arrangements he made with him. The other painter stated he would come by to look at the remaming paint job and if it is as Mr. PapaleI said, he could probably do it for the balance owed. I asked Mr. Papale to return when the other painter came so he could walk through my home and show him what needed to be completed. He stated he could not return because he had to care for his ex wife. When the other painter arrived and walked through my home to see what needed to be finished, he quoted me a price that tripled the balance I owed Mr. Papale. He then told me he has had to complete other paint jobs which Mr. Papale had abandoned. I called Mr. Papale who told me he would just give me the names of other painters I could call. I refused his offer because I could no longer trust anything he said. My husband went to Mr. Papale's home to see if they could rectify the problem, but he was asked to leave his property.