Bensalem Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Bensalem, PA

Construction Dispute Law in Pennsylvania

Landowners and contractors in Bensalem, Pennsylvania commonly contract with each other for major construction projects. With any large construction projects, some small delays or problems are all but inevitable, but they don't usually derail the project or lead to major disputes between the parties.

Normally, contractors and landowners can resolve minor disputes amongst themselves, without having to resort to litigation. Commonly, construction contracts contain built-in remedies for mistakes and delays that can be easily corrected, such as payments to the owner for every day the project is delayed.

Even if someone else needs to get immersed to resolve a dispute, this does not automatically mean litigation is necessary. For example, the parties might attempt mediation, in which a neutral third party tries to help guide the parties to an agreement, but cannot render a binding decision himself. They might also agree to arbitration, during which a third party is able to render a binding decision. Arbitration is normally done through a private company, and may cost less than litigation, and is overseen by an arbitrator who is an expert in the relevant field.

Litigating a construction dispute in Bensalem, Pennsylvania is definitely not something that anybody likes doing. However, it is sometimes necessary, as a last resort.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Bensalem, Pennsylvania

Major Delays: If the contractor or a subcontractor is at fault in causing a massive delay to a project (several months, for example), this may lead to a lawsuit. If the contract stated that time was of the essence for some reason (maybe the project was a new store that the owner hoped to open before the holiday shopping season, for example), a court can normally award the owner any damages that were caused by the delay.

Owner's refusal to pay: Contractors can also be the victims in construction disputes. 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." Rather, 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 cases, 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.

Subcontractor Disputes: When a construction company is contracted to complete a large project, there is normally a great deal of specialized work to be done which they aren't equipped to handle. As a result, they hire other contractors, who, in this arrangement, are subcontractors, to do some of the work. However, the general contractor (the one that the landowner hired to do the work) is still responsible for the completion of the project - if a subcontractor causes a problem, the general contractor is on the hook for it. This sometimes leads to landowners suing general contractors for the mistakes of subcontractors. If the general contractor loses, and has to pay the client, the general contractor can then sue the subcontractor for whatever amount of money it had to pay.

Mechanic's Liens: If the contractor sues a land owner and wins, he will likely obtain a monetary judgment. If the owner refuses to pay, the contractor needs some way to recover. This is where the mechanic's lien comes into play. It authorizes 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 Bensalem, Pennsylvania 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 necessary to hire a Bensalem, Pennsylvania construction disputes attorney, who can advise you on the next steps in the process.

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Life in Bensalem

Bensalem Township is one of the oldest municipalities in the state of Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1692, and is nearly as old as the state of Pennsylvania, which was founded in 1682. It currently has a population of 58,000 and is rich in American historical facts. Benjamin Franklin is reported to have made his historic electricity kite experiment in Bensalem. Currently Bensalem draws numerous residents and visitors with its many attractions. Some of these include the Philadelphia Park Racetrack, which houses horse races, and the Neshaminy Mall. Several companies such as Rita's Franchise Company and Charming Shoppes have their headquarters in the township. Television shows and movies are frequently filmed in the town. The township is reputed to be a "community of firsts", as it is the site of the many "first" buildings and institutions in Pennsylvania. Historians dispute over the origin of the town's name. Some claim it means "peaceful hill" or "mount of peace", while others state that it means "son of peace". Practicing lawyers in Bensalem can file their cases at the Bucks County District Court or the Court of Common Pleas. Bensalem, Pennsylvania lawyers typically handle a wide variety of civil and criminal legal claims.

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