Hartford Construction Dispute Lawyers

Construction Dispute Law in Connecticut

When a property owner and a general contractor contract for a construction project to take place on some property in Hartford, Connecticut, 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.

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 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.

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

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Hartford, Connecticut

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.

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 typically 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.

Subcontractor Disputes: With very considerable 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 necessary 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: A mechanic's lien is a way for a contractor to secure payment if a landowner declines to pay. In such cases, if the contractor sues and wins, he or she can sometimes impose a mechanic's lien on the property he or she just worked on. This permits the contractor to force a sale of the property to cover the judgment. It is usually used when other attempts to secure payment fail.

Can a Hartford, Connecticut Attorney Help?

Disputes over construction delays or defects can be extremely taxing. Therefore, getting an efficient Hartford, Connecticut real estate attorney might mean the difference between success or failure in your business ventures.

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Life in Hartford

Hartford, Connecticut is a diverse and historic city located in Hartford County. It is the state capital as well as the county seat for Hartford County. The Hartford metropolitan region boasts the second highest national rating for per capita economic activity (behind San Francisco). It is part of an area known as the "Knowledge Corridor", which is home to thirty-two colleges and universities.

Hartford, Connecticut is also nicknamed "the Insurance Capital of the World", as it houses headquarters for several major insurance companies. The insurance field is Hartford's major industry. The Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Building is one of the city's main features. Other places of interest in Hartford are the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch and the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.

Being nearly 400 years old, Hartford Connecticut is home to a whole host of "oldest" operations in the U.S. A few examples include the nation's oldest published newspaper in operation (The Hartford Courant); the oldest public park (Bushnell Park) and the Wadsworth Atheneum, which is the country's oldest public art museum. Notable residents have included author Mark Twain and actress Katharine Hepburn. The city also boasts a large number of modern retail stores and restaurants.

Lawyers in Hartford, Connecticut continue the city's rich history in legal services. Hartford lawyers are knowledgeable of the various statutes and laws that regulate the city's businesses and population. They are available for legal assistance in a broad range of legal fields.

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Construction Dispute Law in Connecticut

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Hartford, Connecticut