Del Mar Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Del Mar, CA

Construction Dispute Law in California

When a property owner and a general contractor contract for a construction project to take place on some property in Del Mar, California, whether it's a house, some landscaping, or a remodeling project, there is always a risk that something can go wrong. In fact, at least a very minor setback may be more likely than not.

Most often, landowners and construction contractors are able to resolve minor to moderate disagreements between themselves, and litigation is rarely necessary. Nobody likes litigation, so, to this end, most construction contracts have built-in remedies in case something goes wrong, like set price reductions if construction is delayed.

Even if disagreements can't be resolved amongst the parties to the contract, they don't need to take their dispute into the court system. For instance, construction contracts normally call for mediation or arbitration before any disputes are resolved by the courts. Mediation is a process by which a third party serves as a sort of intermediary in settlement negotiations between the parties to the contract. The mediator can help keep negotiations on track, and suggest possible solutions the parties might not have thought of. The mediator can't issue a binding decision, however. Arbitration is a procedure through which the parties agree to have their dispute resolved by a third party, which can render a binding decision. Arbitration can be quicker and cheaper than litigation, and it has some other advantages, as well.

Litigation of construction disputes in Del Mar, California can be extremely time-consuming, stressful, and costly. Nevertheless, there are (relatively rare) times where it is the only option.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Del Mar, California

Delays: If the contractor is culpable in a major delay in a construction project (a delay of weeks or months, for example), a lawsuit could result. If the contract particularly states that completion by a particular date is very important, or the builder has a good reason to know this, a court will often award the owner compensation for any economic harm caused by a delay.

Refusal to Pay: Contractors can be on the other side of legal disagreements, as well. Sometimes, the landowners who hired them refuse to pay. This is normally because the landowner believes that the contractor didn't perform under the terms of the contract, or that the work was unsatisfactory. If this is the case, it may ultimately be up to a court to decide who is right. If the contractor did, in fact, do poor work, the landowner will be excused, at least in part, from his duty to pay. If, on the other hand, the work was satisfactory, the court will order the landowner to pay the contract price immediately, and may award further damages if the refusal to pay was done in bad faith, or if it caused foreseeable economic harm to the contractor.

Subcontractors: With big construction projects, contractors normally hire other, smaller contractors to do some of the work for them. This is normally work of a specialized nature, which the general contractor isn't equipped to handle (such as plumbing or electrical wiring). The general contractor is the one who is responsible for the satisfactory completion of the project. If a subcontractor makes a mistake, or causes a delay, the general contractor is ultimately liable to the person who hired them. Nonetheless, if they are sued for the mistakes of a subcontractor, and lose, they can then sue the subcontractor to recover their losses.

Mechanic's Liens: If the contractor sues a land owner and wins, he will likely obtain a monetary judgment. If the owner declines to pay, the contractor needs some way to recover. This is where the mechanic's lien comes into play. It authorizes a contractor to force the sale of the land or other real property that he just worked on, and use those proceeds to cover costs.

Can a Del Mar, California Attorney Help?

Construction disputes and disagreements can be very hard to deal with alone. The assistance of a Del Mar, California real estate attorney can make the process of dealing with these disputes much quicker and easier.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Del Mar

Del Mar is located in San Diego County, California. With a smaller population of about 4,500, Del Mar is an upscale city known for its beautiful beaches and legendary surfing. The name "Del Mar" means "by the sea" or "of the sea", as it is located directly on the Pacific Coast. The city was mentioned in the Beach Boys hit song, "Surfin' USA".

Del Mar is home to several beaches which are known as excellent surfing spots. In particular, 15th Street Beach in Del Mar was listed as #4 on Time Magazine's list of "100 Greatest Beaches in the World". Other beach sites include Torrey Pines State Beach and North Beach, affectionately known as "Dog Beach" by the many dog owners who frequent the area.

Del Mar, California is also famous for being the home to the annual San Diego County Fair. The fair is one of the most popular summer fairs in all of California and is held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds also houses the Del Mar Racetrack. In addition to the world-class beaches at Del Mar, the area is an excellent site for employment, with top hirers such as Kitchen 1540 and Pacifica Del Mar.

Lawyers in Del Mar, California handle a variety of different legal claims and disputes. Legal inquiries can be directed to an experienced Del Mar lawyer. Del Mar lawyers typically represent clients at the nearby Superior Court of California, County of San Diego.

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