******* Legal Advice Needed ASAP ********

Take whatever amount he is willing to give you voluntarily. Unless he is slick and puts the correct language on the check, a partial payment does not preclude you from seeking the whole amount. Send him a letter reiterating your position and requesting that he send you, at the very least, the undisputed amount. You both agree he owes you , at least, $700, ask him to at least pay that amount now, without suggesting it would be a full payment or end the dispute.

Anything you get is better than nothing and is a start.

From there, you will have to make you a decision. If he gives you nothing, that will point you in 1 direction. If you get $700, it largely becomes a cost-benefit issue. If you make $40 an hour, do you want to spend 10 hours trying to collect $1300, when you know you can make $400. Now, you are down to debating over the effort to get the extra $900.

If you ask him to pay something, you will be in better posture. If he pays nothing, he will look like a jerk and likely force you to take some action. Then, if you do, you will look like the good guy. If he pays something, you have the money, and, if you pursue it more, there is good chance the court might move toward a compromise. Better to compromise over the remaining $1300, with $700 in hand, than compromise over $2,000.

Consider a Justice of the Peace court. Call your local one and ask about what you need to do and about the costs and its jurisdiction. They are rather informal and you might only have to show the court the website, and your prices to put the guy on the defensive. Generally, a verbal contract is permissble in LA.