Miramar Construction Dispute Lawyers

Construction Dispute Law in Florida

When a property owner and a general contractor contract for a construction project to take place on some property in Miramar, Florida, 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.

In the majority of cases, it's possible for landowners and contractors to resolve disagreements amicably. There are many ways to do this, such as a simple verbal agreement to lower the contract price due to a mistake made by the contractor, for example, or an agreement to a slight price increase in the event of unforeseen obstacles beyond the control of either party.

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 disagreements 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 construction disputes in Miramar, Florida can be extremely time-consuming, stressful, and costly. Nevertheless, there are (relatively rare) times where it is the only option.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Miramar, Florida

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.

Refusal to Pay: Disagreements 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 normally come up with a better one to argue in court). In these cases, a court will occasionally 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 substantially less than the contract price.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are hired by general contractors to assist them in large construction projects, normally specialized tasks like installing plumbing. Nonetheless, 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 essentially 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 declines 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 authorizes 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 Miramar, Florida Attorney Help?

If you are involved in a dispute over a construction project, you should try to avoid litigation, and settle the matter as amicably as possible. However, litigation is sometimes crucial, and a Miramar, Florida construction disputes attorney can be of great help.

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Life in Miramar

Miramar is a city Broward County, Florida. It has a population of 108,000, as of estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau from the year 2007.

The city of Miramar, Florida is named after the Miramar District, in Havana, Cuba.

Miramar is home to very large communities of Columbian and Jamaicanimmigrants, and Cuban expatriates. These various ethnic groups have contributed to the diverse character of Miramar, and influenced its unique culture.

Miramar is the headquarters of Spirit Airlines, a low-cost carrier operating flights throughout the Americas. It is one of the largest employers in the Miramar area. Miramar is part of the South Florida Metro Area, which includes Miami and other major tourist destinations. As a result, tourism and travel are major drivers of Miramar's economy.

Thanks to its diversity and economic vitality, there is a thriving legal community in Miramar, Florida. Miramar, Florida lawyers are experienced in dealing with a wide variety of clients and cases; in a community as diverse as Miramar, they have to be in order to stay competitive. For most Miramar, Florida attorneys, there is no case to big or too small.

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Construction Dispute Law in Florida

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Miramar, Florida