South Gate 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 South Gate, 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 disputes 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 disputes 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.

Litigation of a South Gate, California construction dispute is never something that anyone wants to do. Nonetheless, there are sometimes no other options.

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

Construction Delays: Delays in construction are common sticking points between contractors and landowners. These delays can sometimes lead to litigation, especially if the construction contract makes it clear that time is an important factor, or if the contract mandates a certain completion date. In such situations, a court will often award the landowner compensation for any monetary losses he or she suffered as a result of the delay.

Refusal to Pay: Contractors can be on the other side of legal disputes, as well. Sometimes, the landowners who hired them refuse to pay. This is usually 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 additional damages if the refusal to pay was done in bad faith, or if it caused foreseeable economic harm to the contractor.

Subcontractor Disputes: In large projects, contractors often can't handle every aspect of the construction, so they hire other (usually 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 Lien: If the contractor wins in a lawsuit against the land owner, and the court orders the owner to pay the contractor for services rendered, the contractor needs a way to secure payment, if the owner refuses. In some cases, a mechanic's lien allows the contractor to force the sale of the land, and any improvements to it, in order to secure payment for the services it provided.

Can a South Gate, California Attorney Help?

Construction disputes can be time-consuming and costly. Hiring a good South Gate, California real estate attorney can make it much easier to deal with such disputes, and help you avoid litigation, or prevail if litigation becomes necessary.

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Life in South Gate

When people think of Los Angeles, Malibu, Hollywood or Beverly Hills often comes to mind. However, South Gate is the sixteenth largest city in Los Angeles County. It is part of the Gateway Cities and is home to approximately 102,770 people. South Gate is nicknamed the "Azalea City" because it adopted the azalea as its official flower.

Some great attractions to see in South Gate include Watts Tower Arts Center, the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Los Angeles Philharmonic,Watts Towers, Shrine Auditorium, Helitac Aviation, Karyn Lovegrove Gallery and Cultural Center Rosecrucoan Amorc.

With South Gate being so close to central Los Angeles, South Gate residents are a short drive away from top-notch legal representation. Los Angeles is home to top-tier law schools such as UCLA and USC, as well as large multinational firms. South Gate residents also have close access to many small and mid-size firms in Los Angeles that alse house excellent attorneys. All in all, South Gate residents are in luck--they have a vast and diverse legal force awaiting to serve their legal needs!

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South Gate Construction Dispute Lawyers

Construction Dispute Law in California

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