Waterford Construction Dispute Lawyers

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Construction Dispute Law in Michigan

When the owner of some real estate and a contractor enter an agreement for a construction project in Waterford, Michigan, be it a house, landscaping project, or massive office building, there's always a chance that problems will come up, no matter how careful everyone is. A few minor setbacks are almost inevitable, in fact.

In the overwhelming majority of instances, however, these problems are resolvable, and do not lead to major disputes. Being rational, business-minded adults, landowners and construction contractors are typically able to resolve disputes amongst themselves. After all, both stand to gain if the project is completed, and the contractor is paid.

Even if a third party gets involved, it does not always need to be a court. Private mediators can help the parties reach a settlement, or a private arbitrator who is an expert on construction litigation can render a binding decision, if mediation and negotiation fail and the parties can't resolve their dispute.

Construction Dispute litigation in Waterford, Michigan is typically time-consuming and expensive. But it is sometimes necessary, typically as a last resort.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Waterford, Michigan

Delays in Construction: Delays are frequently points of contention between contractors and landowners. Contracts sometimes have clauses which explicitly state that the project needs to be completed by a certain date, or penalties will be imposed on the contractor (reduced payments, for example). However, if the contract doesn't contain such built-in remedies, or one party refuses to abide by them, litigation may be necessary. If a contractor causes a delay that it could have prevented, it will typically be liable to the landowner for any harm resulting from it.

Owner's Refusal to Pay: If the contractor completes the project, and the owner refuses to pay the agreed-upon price, the contractor will typically file a lawsuit to recover what is owed. Of course, the owner will typically 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 determine if the contractor actually breached the contract by doing shoddy work, which could, at least in part, excuse the owner's duty to pay.

Subcontractor Disputes: In large projects, contractors often can't handle every aspect of the construction, so they hire other (typically smaller) contractors to do some specialized work for them, such as plumbing, electrical installations, and the like. The general contractor, however, is responsible to the owner for anything that goes wrong. If a subcontractor messes up, and the owner sues the contractor, the contractor will have to pay. However, the contractor can then go after the subcontractor to recover whatever he had to pay.

Mechanic's Liens: A mechanic's lien is a way for a contractor to secure payment if a landowner refuses 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 Waterford, Michigan Attorney Help?

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

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Waterford

The beautiful city of Waterford, Michigan is the third largest township in the state of Michigan with just over 73,000 residents. The self-proclaimed "Lakeside Paradise" is located in Oakland County Michigan and was established in 1834. Waterford is a city that has a lot to offer both residents and visitors alike. The city of Waterford is located in Oakland County, and its central location makes it a very easy city to live in. Wateford is located on 35.3 square miles and has lots of parks, trails, and other activities for people to enjoy. Additionally, the Oakland County International Airport is located in Waterford, making for easy access in and out of the city of Waterford.

Waterford has a thriving professional community with many talented doctor, lawyers, accountants, and businessman working in various capacities. Waterford lawyers are some of the best in the business, and many come from the University of Michigan Law School and settle to practice in Waterford. Whatever the legal issue is, a Waterfod lawyer is available to help!

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