Los Angeles Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles, 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, the owners of land and contractors can end disagreements before they get too serious, thus eliminating the need for litigation. Most contracts governing construction projects have built-in remedies for the most common problems, normally requiring the party that causes a delay or other problem to pay the other party a set fee.

Even if the parties can't easily resolve their disputes, and someone else needs to intervene, that somebody doesn't always need to be a judge or jury. Many construction disagreements call for mediation, during which a neutral third party helps the parties to the dispute negotiate a settlement. They might also go through arbitration, during which a third party renders a binding decision.

Because of the large cost in time and money involved, litigation in Los Angeles, California is regarded a last resort. However, in rare cases, it does become necessary.

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

Construction Delays: Delays in construction are frequent sticking points between contractors and landowners. These delays can sometimes lead to litigation, especially if the construction contract makes it clear that time is an important factor, or if the contract mandates a certain completion date. In such situations, a court will often award the landowner compensation for any monetary losses he or she suffered as a result of the delay.

Refusal to Pay: Disagreements 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 normally come up with a better one to argue in court). In these cases, a court will occasionally 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 substantially less than the contract price.

Subcontractor Disputes: With very massive construction projects, general contractors don't always have the resources to do all the work themselves, so they hire other contractors to do some of the work for them. Nonetheless, it is the general contractor who is ultimately responsible to the owner for the satisfactory completion of the project. So, it is very essential to the general contractor that subcontractors do a good job. If the subcontractor causes a delay or other issue, and the owner sues the general contractor as a result, the general contractor can then go after the subcontractor to recover whatever it lost in the lawsuit.

Mechanic's Liens: Sometimes, when a contractor wins in a case against the landowner who hired him or her, and obtains a court order for payment, the contractor will still refuse to pay. Since a money judgment isn't worth much without a way to enforce it, the laws of many states have evolved to authorize what's known as a "mechanic's lien." As a last resort, if a landowner refuses to pay the contractor for work done on the property, the contractor can force a sale of the property, and keep the proceeds, up to the amount of money owed.

Can a Los Angeles, California Attorney Help?

Construction disputes can be time-consuming and costly. Hiring a seasoned Los Angeles, California real estate attorney can make it much easier to deal with such disputes, and help you avoid litigation, or prevail if litigation becomes necessary.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Los Angeles

Most people think of Hollywood when they think of Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles is home to many celebrities, movie studios such as Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment Studios, and the Walk of Fame. Los Angeles residents and visitors can often sight celebrities shopping on Rodeo Drive, in Malibu, Beverly Hills, or in various night clubs.

Besides celebrities, Los Angeles is near the happiest on Earth-Disneyland! Kicking back and enjoying rides, great shows and parades, and hanging out with your favorite Disney characters is not the only thing Disneyland is about. Rather, Disneyland is a place where families come together, have fun, and both children and adults feel like a kid again. This unique attraction is one of the reasons Los Angeles is so visited by people all over the world.Other attractions in Los Angeles include the J. Paul Getty Museum, Universal Studios Hollywood, Hollywood Museum, Griffith Park, Venice Beach, and the Hollywood Bowl Museum.

Los Angeles being such a large city with a population of 9,862,049 is home to many intelligent, ivy-league-educated, and promising lawyers. Therefore, many large, multinational as well as mid-sized and small firms are present in Los Angeles. No legal need is left unattended in Los Angeles, California.

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