Question

I hired a contractor to paint my house and do some work. I gave him money for supplies totalling 500 dollars and half of the labor totalling 350 dollars. The man never showed up to do any work on my house. I have a hand written receipt by the man, signed by him with a list of total payed and still owed monies. I have already filed against him for 850 dollars and the court cost of 102. The clerk told me that the receipt would only go so far and that if the man came to court and claimed that he has no money and no job the court could do nothing to make him refund my money. I believe he has been in this situation before and now I am finding out that he has burned other people and pulled the same thing. I am currently getting statements from my neighbors that contracted him prior to myself hiring him. I feel like my knowledge of the law is hindering me from taking the correct steps to make sure the legal system doesn't protect him and leave me to the dogs.