I have been to court twice on small claims before, and although both were smaller dollar values than what you have on your hands, I can tell you this:
document everything!
document everything!
document everything!
and when you get done documenting everthing document somemore!
keep all coorespondance from the contractor including all messages on voicemail.
read your contract carefully. if this guy has done anything against what is in the contract he is screwed.
if he has done everything in his contract but for some reason you are not satisfied, then you are screwed.