NC Property Manager isn't paying Landlord rent collected

[Zach Gordon]

I am a out of state owner and had a very bad property manager in NC that has since been replaced for a small 4 unit building. They didn't collect rent timely, didn't charge for late payments, didn't evict non-paying tenant, let the property run into disrepair, etc..  All of that is bad, but nothing illegal.

I have received their ledger that shows when rent was actually paid and noticed that the Property Manager has withheld money that they have collected. 

I settled on the Property on August 24th, and rent for the August Period wasn't collected until August 29th or September. I believe that even though the rent was for the Aug 1st to August 30th time period, it was collected after I owned the property so it should be mine. There is nothing in the sales contract that say's how past due rent should be handled. There are also funds that were collected months into ownership that were not sent to me.

Has anyone experienced a situation like this from a property manager and how was it handled? I have requested the funds I am entitled to, but doesn't sound like they are going to pay.

If I get an attorney, am I able to go after them for pain and suffering and have them pay my legal fee's if I win? Does anyone have a good recommendation for an attorney in the Concorde NC area that will be able to assist.

Thanks

zach