Redding Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Redding, 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 Redding, California, whether it's a house, some landscaping, or a remodeling project, there is always a chance 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, usually 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.

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

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

Delays: Some minor delays in a construction project are all but guaranteed to occur. Usually, if contracts require a specific completion date, the contractor will give itself longer than the project would take under ideal circumstances, to account for possible delays. Furthermore, construction contracts usually attempt to insure against delays, such as imposing fees on contractors if the project is delayed beyond a certain point. If no such clause is included in a contract, a court will usually award the client damages that could have been reasonably anticipated at the time the contract was entered into.

Owner's Refusal to Pay: If the contractor completes the project, and the owner refuses to pay the agreed-upon price, the contractor will usually file a lawsuit to recover what is owed. Of course, the owner will usually claim that there is a good reason for not paying, arguing that the contractor didn't conform to the project's specifications, or that the quality of construction was unacceptably poor. In such a case, the court will have to decide if the contractor actually breached the contract by doing shoddy work, which could, at least in part, excuse the owner's duty to pay.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are hired by general contractors to assist them in large construction projects, usually specialized tasks like installing plumbing. Nonetheless, no matter how much of the work is performed by subcontractors, the general contractor (the one that the client actually hired to do the project) is liable to the landowner as if it were doing all the work itself. This essentially means that, if a subcontractor messes up, the general contractor is the one who gets sued. But all is not lost in such a situation. If the general contractor has to compensate the owner because of the mistakes of a subcontractor, it can sue the subcontractor for whatever it had to pay to the landowner.

Mechanic's Lien: When a contractor wins a case against a client for nonpayment of the contract price, and the client still declines to pay, there is a problem: a monetary judgment means next to nothing if it can't be enforced. To solve this problem, the mechanic's lien has been developed. Essentially, if a landowner refuses to pay a contractor, even in the face of a court order, the court can force a sale of the property that the contractor worked on, along with all the improvements on it, and then give the funds to the contractor, to secure payment.

Can a Redding, California Attorney Help?

If you have a construction dispute, you should first try to resolve it amicably with the other party. If this fails, it is almost always imperative to hire a Redding, California construction disputes attorney, who can advise you on the next steps in the process.

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Life in Redding

Redding, California is located in Shasta County, where it serves as the county seat. It is California's larges city to the north of Sacramento and has a population of over 89,000 people. The city is mostly known for its natural environment preserves and for its close location to the Sacramento River. Redding, California is nicknamed "the Jewel of Northern California".

Residents and visitors to Redding California can enjoy many opportunities for outdoor recreation and activities. Popular areas to visit in Redding and the surrounding areas include Lake Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Turtle Bay Exploration Park. The Exploration Park houses a botanical garden, a nature educational camp, and a natural history museum. The Redding Arboretum is also part of the park. The Exploration Park exemplifies Redding's commitment to preserving plant and animal wildlife.

Other places of interest in Redding, California include Cascade Theater, and the Redding Convention Center, which holds shows and concert productions throughout the year. The city also hosts the festive "MarketFest" event every summer. Major employers in Redding include Mercy Medical Center and Shasta College.

Lawyers in Redding, California provide the community with legal assistance in a variety of different fields. Redding lawyers often represent their clients at the Redding branch of the Superior Court of California, County of Shasta. Lawyers in Redding have experience in dealing with the laws and legal issues that are unique to the local area.

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