Inglewood Construction Dispute Lawyers

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 Inglewood, California, whether it's a house, some landscaping, or a remodeling project, there is always a gamble 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 disputes 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 typically 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 process through which the parties agree to have their dispute resolved by a third party, which can render a binding decision. Arbitration can be faster and cheaper than litigation, and it has some other advantages, as well.

Litigating a construction dispute in Inglewood, California is definitely not something that anybody likes doing. However, it is sometimes necessary, as a last resort.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Inglewood, 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 specifically states that completion by a specific 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: Disputes can also arise from a client's refusal or inability to hold up his end of the deal. Sometimes, once a project is complete, or nearly so, a landowner will express an unwillingness to pay the contractor for his services. There might be a variety of reasons for this - sudden loss of money, or dissatisfaction with the quality of the work are a few examples. It's rare that a client will refuse to pay a contractor simply because they don't feel like it (and if that is the reason, they'll typically come up with a better one to argue in court). In these cases, a court will sometimes have to decide if the client is obligated to pay the full price. If the work was, indeed, not up to the standards laid out in the contract, the contractor is not entitled to the full price, but is still entitled to the actual value of the work, even if it's considerably less than the contract price.

Subcontractors: With big construction projects, contractors typically hire other, smaller contractors to do some of the work for them. This is typically 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. However, 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 refuses to pay, the contractor needs some way to recover. This is where the mechanic's lien comes into play. It permits 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 Inglewood, California Attorney Help?

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

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Life in Inglewood

Inglewood, California is a city in Los Angeles County. It currently has a population of around 110,000 residents. It is located in the South Bay area of the Greater Los Angeles region.

Inglewood, California is a vibrant, diverse community. It is extremely ethnically diverse, as well as economically. Its relatively affordable housing makes it attractive to working class individuals, and its proximity to the Los Angeles area makes it attractive to middle-class professionals, such as lawyers.

Inglewood, California is noted for being the headquarters of the D.A.R.E. organization, which seeks to educate schoolchildren and young adults about the dangers of getting involved in violence and illegal drugs. D.A.R.E. employs hundreds of people at its headquarters, including several Inglewood, California attorneys.

If you live in Inglewood, California and are need of legal advice or legal services, you should not hesitate to call an Inglewood, California attorney as soon as possible.

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Construction Dispute Law in California

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