Vallejo 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 Vallejo, 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, 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, typically requiring the party that causes a delay or other problem to pay the other party a set fee.

And even if disputes can't be resolved so easily, the courts still don't necessarily have to get engaged. For example, a construction contract may require mediation before any further action is taken. Mediation is a process by which a third party tries to guide the parties to the dispute to a settlement. The mediator cannot, however, render any binding decision. Another avenue is arbitration. This is where the parties go to a private arbitration service, which can render a binding judgment (usually enforceable through contract law, as the parties agree in advance to abide by the arbitrator's decision). Arbitration has benefits over litigation, as the parties can have a say in choosing the arbitrator (allowing them to have their case arbitrated by an expert on construction disputes, for example).

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

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Vallejo, 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 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.

Owner's refusal to pay: Contractors can also be the victims in construction disagreements. Sometimes, the person who hired them will refuse to pay the agreed-upon fee, or withhold a portion of it. This, without more, certainly constitutes breach of contract. However, in such cases, the owner will rarely go to court and say "I just didn't feel like paying, so I didn't." Alternatively, they will claim that they had a very good reason to withhold all or part of the payment, such as unsatisfactory work by the contractor. In these situations, the court has to determine if the owner has a valid reason for not paying. If it concludes that he or she does not, it will order the owner to pay the agreed-upon price.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are hired by general contractors to assist them in large construction projects, typically 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 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 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 Vallejo, California Attorney Help?

Construction disputes and disagreements can be very challenging to deal with alone. The assistance of a Vallejo, 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!

(where you need legal help)

Can't find a category?

Life in Vallejo

Any young child will know Vallejo because it is home to the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom theme park, formerly Marine World.

Vallejo is located in Solano County, California, with a population of about 115,942 people. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Besides Six Flags, other popular attractions include the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, the California Maritime Academy, Touro University and the Ferry services.

Unfortunately in 2008 Vallejo was the largest Californian city to file for bankruptcy. Common employers in Vallejo include Kaiser Permanente, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Sutter Health, Touro University, the school districts and Petrochem.

Many law firms are located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Bay Area also is home to many law schools, including top-tier ones. Many attorneys also move to the Bay Area due to the vast number of firms in the area. The Bay Area has many large multinational law firms, as well as small to mid-size firms, as well as the offices of many solo practitioners. Therefore, the legal service industry is very active and competitive. Vallejo residents will never have an issue finding help for any of their legal inquiries.

Find a Lawyer

that specializes in your area of need

Real Estate Attorneys

in other California cities and towns

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Nicholas M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Golden, CO

Carl M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Seattle, WA

David A.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Walnut Creek, CA

Choose Your Legal Category:

Choose Your Legal Category:

LegalMatch Resources

Construction Dispute Law in California

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