Naugatuck Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Naugatuck, CT

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 Naugatuck, 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 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, 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 process through which the parties agree to have their dispute resolved by a third party, which can render a binding decision. Arbitration can be faster and cheaper than litigation, and it has some other advantages, as well.

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

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Naugatuck, 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 specifically 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: Disputes can also arise from a client's refusal or inability to hold up his end of the deal. Sometimes, once a project is complete, or nearly so, a landowner will express an unwillingness to pay the contractor for his services. There might be a variety of reasons for this - sudden loss of money, or dissatisfaction with the quality of the work are a few examples. It's rare that a client will refuse to pay a contractor simply because they don't feel like it (and if that is the reason, they'll typically come up with a better one to argue in court). In these cases, a court will sometimes have to decide if the client is obligated to pay the full price. If the work was, indeed, not up to the standards laid out in the contract, the contractor is not entitled to the full price, but is still entitled to the actual value of the work, even if it's considerably less than the contract price.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are hired by general contractors to assist them in large construction projects, typically specialized tasks like installing plumbing. However, 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 basically 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: 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 Naugatuck, Connecticut Attorney Help?

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

With a population of 30,989 (according to the 2000 census), Naugatuck, Connecticut is a sizeable town located spanning on both sides of the Naugatuck River in New Haven County, Connecticut. Of course, being that close to water on both sides, has created some flooding problems for the city. Originally established as a farming community, Naugatuck has grown to incorporate many other industries since it's 1701 inception. One company of interest is H. Barber and Sons, which designs beach rakes and has become the largest business of its type in the world. Naugatuck is also the manufacturing home to Peter Paul, a division of Hershey Foods that produces Almond Joy and Mounds candy bars. Notable current and former residents of Naugatick include Charles Goodyear and baseball player Frank Shea. Quality of life is good for the residents that refer to their home as "Naugy" and there are many fairs and other activities that connect the city. Naugatuck also has an unique approach to government, as it is the only consolidated town and borough in the state of Connecticut. Lawyers in Naugatuck also help improve the quality of life for their fellow citizen. Naigtuck lawyers are skilled in a range of specialties and truly enjoy their craft. Whatever legal issue their fellow Naugy may find themselves confronted with, a Naigtuck lawyer is there to help!

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