4 Frustrating Scenarios When a Construction Attorney Can Get Results

Construction projects can test the patience of the most patient homeowners, especially when legal issues arise that place a construction project in jeopardy of falling apart. A construction attorney can help you avoid costly and time-consuming litigation by negotiating a settlement that prevents any legal issues from seeing the inside of a courtroom. If your case goes to the trial phase of a litigation process, an experienced construction attorney from Alves Radcliffe presents the strongest case possible to help you get a favorable outcome.

Although construction litigation is a costly and time-consuming process, not every construction case is created equal. Some construction cases are much more frustrating to deal with than other types of construction cases. Let’s review four frustrating scenarios when a construction attorney can get results.

Project Delay

Your construction project can go smoothly for several weeks, even months, until a sudden change puts your project behind schedule. Project delays are one of the most frustrating events associated with construction projects. From a shortage of materials to the inability to recruit and retain the most skilled trade professionals, one or more reasons can force the general contractor of your project to stop working. Hiring a construction attorney might be the impetus that gets your construction project back on track.

Breach of Contract

When you sign a construction contract, you are expected to follow every clause written into the contract. You fulfilled your legal obligations, but the same cannot be said for the general contractor that you hired to manage the entire project. A breach of contract case is frustrating for several reasons, including that it causes a project delay, as well as forces both parties into the litigation process that can take months to resolve. An experienced construction attorney hired before drafting a construction contract is the most effective way to prevent the development of a breach of contract case.

Inferior Quality of Work

Inferior quality of work is a frustrating legal issue because which party has the right to define “inferior quality.” As the licensed and certified professional overseeing the construction project, the general contractor might insist that your claim of inferior work does not have legal merit. This is when a construction attorney makes the difference between increasing your frustration level and getting the result you feel represents the highest quality of work. One of the most important issues surrounding inferior quality of work is that it can compromise workplace safety.

Nonpayment

If you face any of the legal issues previously discussed, you have a limited number of options to address the legal issues. The most effective way to address a legal issue that arises from a construction dispute is to withhold payment to the general contractor. One of two events can follow after you withhold payment from a general contractor. First, the general contractor changes course and corrects the legal issue. Second, the general contractor might take legal action against you in the form of filing a mechanic's lien. If you receive a notice of a mechanic’s lien filed against you, a construction attorney can step in to prevent the mechanic’s lien from costing you money.

The Art of Crafting Airtight Construction Contracts

The art of crafting a construction contract is one of the most important, if not the most important responsibilities of your construction attorney. As a legal document, a construction contract defines a wide variety of agreements between a property owner and a general contractor. It establishes the expectations of both parties, as well as describes the details of a project that allows the project to move forward in a timely manner. Without a construction contract, common disputes might erupt, without a legal mechanism to resolve the disputes.

With Alves Radcliffe in your corner, a construction contract should include the following details:

Contact Information

Every section of the contact information should be fully completed for a construction contract to represent a legal document that is considered valid. This includes both parties providing their legal names, as well as addresses and phone numbers. The contact information is typically located at the beginning of a construction contract. Without a fully completed contact information section and/or the addition of incorrect information, any legal disputes might not get resolved because the contract is not legally valid.

Work Description

This section gives a homeowner legal protection against a general contractor because it clearly spells out the description of all the work that is expected to be completed. Your construction attorney hammers out the construction work details with the general contractor and the general contractor’s lawyer. A work description section that does not clearly define work descriptions might make it difficult to prove a general contractor and/or a subcontractor failed to meet contractual obligations.

Work Schedule

Although a detailed work description can help you avoid costly and time-consuming legal action, this section means nothing without the addition of a work schedule. A work schedule section describes the start and finish dates of a construction project. It also sets important milestones for a general contractor to receive compensation. Your construction attorney should list certain events such as weather delays and supply chain disruptions that allow the general contractor to miss important work schedule milestones.

Cost Estimate

This section is the estimated cost that is broken down into major categories and sub-categories for expenses. The cost estimate section is the value of the project that a homeowner budgets for from start to finish. Your construction attorney lists costs in as much detail as possible to ensure your project remains within the budget. The cost estimate section also should describe the payment terms that involve the amount and the date of each payment.

Dispute Resolution Clause

If a construction project dispute arises, a construction contract should include a section that defines how both parties plan to resolve the dispute. Some of the most common types of dispute resolutions include arbitration and mediation. The goal of a dispute resolution agreement is to avoid getting involved in civil litigation, which costs you both time and money. A dispute resolution process is important for both parties, especially if they want to preserve a long-term professional relationship.

Finally, both parties should agree on which party assumes authority over specified project decisions. Although a general contract assumes authority over most decisions, a construction project can involve several contractors who make decisions that concern their trade specializations.

Why is It Important to Have a Construction Attorney On Board?

Preparing for a construction project requires keen attention to detail. You have to devise a realistic budget that covers what you want done to improve the appearance of your property. Then, the time arrives for you to hire a general contractor who manages every step of the construction project. You must ensure that you comply with all zoning ordinances, as well as any restrictions put in place by your homeowner’s association. One step that you might neglect to check off your to-do list is to have a construction attorney on board.

At Alves Radcliffe, we help homeowners and other types of property owners avoid costly litigation by addressing legal issues before they spiral out of control. Let’s see why it is important to have a construction attorney on board before the start of your construction project.

Review Proposed Contract

One of the most important roles of a construction attorney is to prevent legal issues from arising during your construction project. The most effective way to accomplish this goal involves conducting an extensive review of the construction contract. Your construction attorney determines whether the proposed construction contract is valid, as well as suggests provisions that you should add to the legally binding document.

A construction attorney also finds a way to end all contract disputes.

Construction Defects

One or more construction defects can decrease the value of your home. From the addition of poorly aligned siding to a new roof that does not keep out rain, you might have to confront the general contractor about construction defects. Having a construction attorney on board helps you resolve disputes concerning one or more construction defects.

An unethical contractor might try to take advantage of your lack of construction industry knowledge.

Unwarranted Project Delays

You can expect at least one delay during your home construction project. The issue is not whether you have to deal with a delay or two. Instead, the question involves deciding whether the delay is valid. Weather disrupts home construction projects, from torrid heatwaves to severe thunderstorms. Having a construction attorney on board helps you define what constitutes a valid weather delay, as well as how long the general contractor can wait to start work again.

Address a Mechanic’s Lien

If a construction dispute arises, the smart thing for you to do is withhold payment until your construction attorney helps you resolve the dispute. However, the general contractor might fight back against withheld revenue by filing a mechanic’s lien, which is a legal document requesting payment for the general contractor’s services up to a certain point. Having a construction attorney on board ensures you pay for the services provided as listed in the construction contract.

Put a Construction Attorney in Retainer

Having a construction attorney on board before the start of your project requires you to put a lawyer on retainer. A retainer fee is a type of compensation that pays a construction attorney for future services. Whether a contractor wrongly abandons a project or uses shoddy materials to remodel your home, having a construction attorney on retainer ensures you receive immediate legal support when you need it.

Construction Attorneys Help Subcontractors Settle Issues

When you think of a construction attorney, you probably think of a lawyer who represents a property owner who has sustained financial losses as the result of the negligence committed by a general contractor. At Alves Radcliffe, most of the cases that we handle concern the legal grievance or grievances that a property owner has with a general contractor as the result of a failed construction project. However, we also represent another type of client that has endured the financial losses caused by a general contractor.

Our law firm represents subcontractors who have sustained financial losses as the result of the negligence committed by a general contractor.

Construction law addresses the legal issues that arise because of the breaching of state, local, and federal laws. A construction attorney represents several types of clients who have a wide variety of legal complaints, such as construction defects and the use of faulty materials. We represent homeowners, as well as the owners of commercial buildings. Other clients that we have represented include architects, developers, and construction project managers. In addition, a significant number of our clients are subcontractors who want to file a legal complaint for one or more reasons.

Breach of contract represents one of the most common reasons why subcontractors file legal complaints against general contractors. A breach of contract can involve failing to pay for specified materials or terminating a contract before a project ends. Another common reason for a subcontractor to file a lawsuit against a general contractor concerns compensation. A general contractor who stops paying a subcontractor for work already completed might face legal ramifications in the form of a civil lawsuit. If you are a subcontractor who sustained one or more injuries while under the supervision of a general contractor, you might qualify to file a workers’ compensation claim.

What Are the Ways to Resolve a Dispute Between a Subcontractor and a General Contractor?

Subcontractors have four ways to resolve a legal dispute with a general contractor. Mediation involves the participation of a neutral third party who issues a non-binding decision. A mediator encourages discussions between both parties, while also stressing areas of agreement and helping to bridge differences. On the other hand, arbitration leads to a binding decision issued as the result of the arbitration provisions written into a construction. As the third way to resolve a legal dispute, both parties can negotiate a settlement that keeps a legal case from entering the trial phase of the litigation process. Finally, litigation should be the last recourse for resolving a legal case between a subcontractor and a general contractor.

How a Construction Attorney Helps a Subcontractor

Hiring a construction attorney might be enough to convince a general contractor to resolve a legal conflict outside of the judicial system. Negotiating a settlement can save you a considerable amount of time and money. However, a construction lawyer also helps a subcontractor avoid getting into a legal conflict with a general contractor. Your lawyer meticulously reviews the proposed construction contract to ensure you have all the legal bases covered. A construction attorney maintains all the documents required to take legal action, if necessary. Gathering physical evidence also is an important part of a construction attorney’s legal services.
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Hiring a construction attorney to resolve a conflict with a general contractor can be the difference between resolving your case quickly or being embroiled in a legal dispute for years to come.

South of Houston Street

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Quisque id diam vel quam elementum pulvinar etiam non. Accumsan sit amet nulla facilisi morbi tempus iaculis urna id. Pharetra sit amet aliquam id diam. Vitae aliquet nec ullamcorper sit amet risus nullam eget felis. Blandit turpis cursus in hac habitasse platea. Auctor eu augue ut lectus. Mauris in aliquam sem fringilla ut morbi. Tellus orci ac auctor augue mauris augue neque gravida. Amet mauris commodo quis imperdiet massa. Porta non pulvinar neque laoreet suspendisse interdum consectetur libero. Ultricies integer quis auctor elit sed vulputate mi sit. Placerat in egestas erat imperdiet. Fermentum leo vel orci porta. Sed sed risus pretium quam vulputate.

Vitae nunc sed velit dignissim sodales ut eu sem. Nullam eget felis eget nunc lobortis. Nibh sit amet commodo nulla. Rhoncus urna neque viverra justo nec. Parturient montes nascetur ridiculus mus. Integer eget aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna. Sem nulla pharetra diam sit amet nisl suscipit adipiscing bibendum. Commodo viverra maecenas accumsan lacus vel. In fermentum et sollicitudin ac orci phasellus egestas tellus rutrum. Ullamcorper dignissim cras tincidunt lobortis feugiat vivamus at augue. Quis varius quam quisque id diam vel quam elementum. Volutpat lacus laoreet non curabitur gravida arcu ac tortor. Pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh. Turpis massa sed elementum tempus egestas sed sed risus. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at varius vel.

Massa tempor nec feugiat nisl pretium fusce id. Pellentesque dignissim enim sit amet. Mattis ullamcorper velit sed ullamcorper morbi tincidunt ornare massa. Ultricies leo integer malesuada nunc vel risus. Consequat ac felis donec et odio pellentesque. Urna condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id. Condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet. Quis varius quam quisque id diam vel quam elementum pulvinar. Mauris ultrices eros in cursus turpis. Feugiat nibh sed pulvinar proin. Venenatis a condimentum vitae sapien. Ut faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat. Facilisis leo vel fringilla est ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi. Diam volutpat commodo sed egestas egestas fringilla phasellus faucibus. Et netus et malesuada fames. Aenean sed adipiscing diam donec adipiscing tristique risus nec feugiat. Faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat ac. Diam vulputate ut pharetra sit.

Vitae nunc sed velit dignissim sodales ut eu sem. Nullam eget felis eget nunc lobortis. Nibh sit amet commodo nulla. Rhoncus urna neque viverra justo nec. Parturient montes nascetur ridiculus mus. Integer eget aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna. Sem nulla pharetra diam sit amet nisl suscipit adipiscing bibendum. Commodo viverra maecenas accumsan lacus vel. In fermentum et sollicitudin ac orci phasellus egestas tellus rutrum. Ullamcorper dignissim cras tincidunt lobortis feugiat vivamus at augue. Quis varius quam quisque id diam vel quam elementum. Volutpat lacus laoreet non curabitur gravida arcu ac tortor. Pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh. Turpis massa sed elementum tempus egestas sed sed risus. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at varius vel.

Massa tempor nec feugiat nisl pretium fusce id. Pellentesque dignissim enim sit amet. Mattis ullamcorper velit sed ullamcorper morbi tincidunt ornare massa. Ultricies leo integer malesuada nunc vel risus. Consequat ac felis donec et odio pellentesque. Urna condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id. Condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet. Quis varius quam quisque id diam vel quam elementum pulvinar. Mauris ultrices eros in cursus turpis. Feugiat nibh sed pulvinar proin. Venenatis a condimentum vitae sapien. Ut faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat. Facilisis leo vel fringilla est ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi. Diam volutpat commodo sed egestas egestas fringilla phasellus faucibus. Et netus et malesuada fames. Aenean sed adipiscing diam donec adipiscing tristique risus nec feugiat. Faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat ac. Diam vulputate ut pharetra sit.

Summers in Manhattan

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Quisque id diam vel quam elementum pulvinar etiam non. Accumsan sit amet nulla facilisi morbi tempus iaculis urna id. Pharetra sit amet aliquam id diam. Vitae aliquet nec ullamcorper sit amet risus nullam eget felis. Blandit turpis cursus in hac habitasse platea. Auctor eu augue ut lectus. Mauris in aliquam sem fringilla ut morbi. Tellus orci ac auctor augue mauris augue neque gravida. Amet mauris commodo quis imperdiet massa. Porta non pulvinar neque laoreet suspendisse interdum consectetur libero. Ultricies integer quis auctor elit sed vulputate mi sit. Placerat in egestas erat imperdiet. Fermentum leo vel orci porta. Sed sed risus pretium quam vulputate.

Vitae nunc sed velit dignissim sodales ut eu sem. Nullam eget felis eget nunc lobortis. Nibh sit amet commodo nulla. Rhoncus urna neque viverra justo nec. Parturient montes nascetur ridiculus mus. Integer eget aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna. Sem nulla pharetra diam sit amet nisl suscipit adipiscing bibendum. Commodo viverra maecenas accumsan lacus vel. In fermentum et sollicitudin ac orci phasellus egestas tellus rutrum. Ullamcorper dignissim cras tincidunt lobortis feugiat vivamus at augue. Quis varius quam quisque id diam vel quam elementum. Volutpat lacus laoreet non curabitur gravida arcu ac tortor. Pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh. Turpis massa sed elementum tempus egestas sed sed risus. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at varius vel.

Massa tempor nec feugiat nisl pretium fusce id. Pellentesque dignissim enim sit amet. Mattis ullamcorper velit sed ullamcorper morbi tincidunt ornare massa. Ultricies leo integer malesuada nunc vel risus. Consequat ac felis donec et odio pellentesque. Urna condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id. Condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet. Quis varius quam quisque id diam vel quam elementum pulvinar. Mauris ultrices eros in cursus turpis. Feugiat nibh sed pulvinar proin. Venenatis a condimentum vitae sapien. Ut faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat. Facilisis leo vel fringilla est ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi. Diam volutpat commodo sed egestas egestas fringilla phasellus faucibus. Et netus et malesuada fames. Aenean sed adipiscing diam donec adipiscing tristique risus nec feugiat. Faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat ac. Diam vulputate ut pharetra sit.

Vitae nunc sed velit dignissim sodales ut eu sem. Nullam eget felis eget nunc lobortis. Nibh sit amet commodo nulla. Rhoncus urna neque viverra justo nec. Parturient montes nascetur ridiculus mus. Integer eget aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna. Sem nulla pharetra diam sit amet nisl suscipit adipiscing bibendum. Commodo viverra maecenas accumsan lacus vel. In fermentum et sollicitudin ac orci phasellus egestas tellus rutrum. Ullamcorper dignissim cras tincidunt lobortis feugiat vivamus at augue. Quis varius quam quisque id diam vel quam elementum. Volutpat lacus laoreet non curabitur gravida arcu ac tortor. Pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh. Turpis massa sed elementum tempus egestas sed sed risus. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at varius vel.

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Life in the City

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Quisque id diam vel quam elementum pulvinar etiam non. Accumsan sit amet nulla facilisi morbi tempus iaculis urna id. Pharetra sit amet aliquam id diam. Vitae aliquet nec ullamcorper sit amet risus nullam eget felis. Blandit turpis cursus in hac habitasse platea. Auctor eu augue ut lectus. Mauris in aliquam sem fringilla ut morbi. Tellus orci ac auctor augue mauris augue neque gravida. Amet mauris commodo quis imperdiet massa. Porta non pulvinar neque laoreet suspendisse interdum consectetur libero. Ultricies integer quis auctor elit sed vulputate mi sit. Placerat in egestas erat imperdiet. Fermentum leo vel orci porta. Sed sed risus pretium quam vulputate.

Vitae nunc sed velit dignissim sodales ut eu sem. Nullam eget felis eget nunc lobortis. Nibh sit amet commodo nulla. Rhoncus urna neque viverra justo nec. Parturient montes nascetur ridiculus mus. Integer eget aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna. Sem nulla pharetra diam sit amet nisl suscipit adipiscing bibendum. Commodo viverra maecenas accumsan lacus vel. In fermentum et sollicitudin ac orci phasellus egestas tellus rutrum. Ullamcorper dignissim cras tincidunt lobortis feugiat vivamus at augue. Quis varius quam quisque id diam vel quam elementum. Volutpat lacus laoreet non curabitur gravida arcu ac tortor. Pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh. Turpis massa sed elementum tempus egestas sed sed risus. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at varius vel.

Massa tempor nec feugiat nisl pretium fusce id. Pellentesque dignissim enim sit amet. Mattis ullamcorper velit sed ullamcorper morbi tincidunt ornare massa. Ultricies leo integer malesuada nunc vel risus. Consequat ac felis donec et odio pellentesque. Urna condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id. Condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet. Quis varius quam quisque id diam vel quam elementum pulvinar. Mauris ultrices eros in cursus turpis. Feugiat nibh sed pulvinar proin. Venenatis a condimentum vitae sapien. Ut faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat. Facilisis leo vel fringilla est ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi. Diam volutpat commodo sed egestas egestas fringilla phasellus faucibus. Et netus et malesuada fames. Aenean sed adipiscing diam donec adipiscing tristique risus nec feugiat. Faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat ac. Diam vulputate ut pharetra sit.

Vitae nunc sed velit dignissim sodales ut eu sem. Nullam eget felis eget nunc lobortis. Nibh sit amet commodo nulla. Rhoncus urna neque viverra justo nec. Parturient montes nascetur ridiculus mus. Integer eget aliquet nibh praesent tristique magna. Sem nulla pharetra diam sit amet nisl suscipit adipiscing bibendum. Commodo viverra maecenas accumsan lacus vel. In fermentum et sollicitudin ac orci phasellus egestas tellus rutrum. Ullamcorper dignissim cras tincidunt lobortis feugiat vivamus at augue. Quis varius quam quisque id diam vel quam elementum. Volutpat lacus laoreet non curabitur gravida arcu ac tortor. Pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet lectus proin nibh. Turpis massa sed elementum tempus egestas sed sed risus. Augue ut lectus arcu bibendum at varius vel.

Massa tempor nec feugiat nisl pretium fusce id. Pellentesque dignissim enim sit amet. Mattis ullamcorper velit sed ullamcorper morbi tincidunt ornare massa. Ultricies leo integer malesuada nunc vel risus. Consequat ac felis donec et odio pellentesque. Urna condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id. Condimentum mattis pellentesque id nibh tortor id aliquet. Quis varius quam quisque id diam vel quam elementum pulvinar. Mauris ultrices eros in cursus turpis. Feugiat nibh sed pulvinar proin. Venenatis a condimentum vitae sapien. Ut faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat. Facilisis leo vel fringilla est ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi. Diam volutpat commodo sed egestas egestas fringilla phasellus faucibus. Et netus et malesuada fames. Aenean sed adipiscing diam donec adipiscing tristique risus nec feugiat. Faucibus pulvinar elementum integer enim neque volutpat ac. Diam vulputate ut pharetra sit.