Subcontractor Questions

I am a subcontractor with a company here in MD, i've been working for the company at their client's site for the last 5 weeks now, even though the client pays every week for the services i render, the company i work with has been holding on to my check , and plans to for six weeks at the end of which i only get paid for one week,

In the contract i signed with the company there is a clause which states that i only get paid when they get paid, but the client has stated that they've paid,

what can i do in the form of legal action to collect all my pay from this company, i've tried working with the CEO, and all he's offered is a to give me an advance on money i worked for, and that's already paid him by the client.


I do know what he's doing is very illegal and there has to be some way to commence legal proceedings to collect my money. As this is seriously putting a strain on me, there is practically no way to pay my rent and utility bills this way.