client won't pay for completed work — what are my options?

Has anyone dealt with something like this? I'm not sure what my options are.

client won't pay for completed work. I've been dealing with this for about 6 months now and the situation isn't improving.

The contract was signed 19 months ago. I have a copy of the original agreement. The total amount in dispute is approximately $77,000.

What's the typical outcome in situations like this?

I've dealt with this before.

What worked for me was filing with the appropriate government agency. It took 4-8 months but was worth it.

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

The #1 mistake I see here is having everything documented. I'd recommend keeping a detailed timeline instead.

I practice in this area. Here's my take on the legal issues.

This is a common situation and the law is fairly clear. Under UCC Article 2, a material breach.

Check your state bar's lawyer referral service, they can point you to someone who handles this.