West Hartford Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in West Hartford, 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 West Hartford, Connecticut, whether it's a house, some landscaping, or a remodeling project, there is always a risk 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, normally 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 normally 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.

Construction Dispute litigation in West Hartford, Connecticut is normally time-consuming and expensive. But it is sometimes necessary, normally as a last resort.

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

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.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are hired by general contractors to assist them in large construction projects, normally 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: 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 West Hartford, Connecticut Attorney Help?

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

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in West Hartford

West Hartford is a Connecticut town located in Hartford County. It has a population of about 64,000 people and was officially incorporated in 1854. It has consistently been ranked as one of the top cities to live in by magazines such as CNN Money and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. West Hartford has been described as a "vacation-worthy" hot spot, as the city features many cutting-edge shopping destinations and restaurants.

For example, some popular destinations in West Hartford include Blue Black Square, Elizabeth Park, Westfarms Mall, and West Hartford Center. West Hartford Center is considered to be the hub or center of the West Hartford community. It has been a gathering place for city residents since the late 17th century.

In addition to West Hartford's thriving economic scene, the city boasts a number of colleges and universities. These include the University of Connecticut Greater Hartford Campus, Saint Joseph College, and the University of Hartford. Notable West Hartford residents have included NBA player Manute Bol and actor John O'Hurley (Peterman from the "Seinfeld" television series).

Lawyers in West Hartford, Connecticut typically assist their clients at the Hartford County Superior Court. Many West Hartford lawyers further contribute to the community through such organizations as the Hartford County Bar Association.

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