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Michael Guetzke didn't get as much money as he says he was owed but insists his 15-month pursuit of Arteaga Construction Inc. to settle a construction bill was worth it.
Guetzke owns Guetzke and Associates Inc., a Waukesha fire protection and safety system supplier that contracted with Milwaukee-based Arteaga in 2010 to install fire alarm systems in two Milwaukee public schools.
But when Guetzke finished the five-month project in December 2010, Arteaga failed to pay a balance of $5,737.87 for materials. Guetzke filed a small claims lawsuit in Milwaukee County on Nov. 4, 2011, to recover that balance.
The case settled Monday, a day before trial, and Guetzke recovered $4,000, minus his attorney's fees. He said it was frustrating the quest to recover the money took longer than...