Pensacola Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Pensacola, FL

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 Pensacola, 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 disputes 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 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 construction disputes in Pensacola, 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 Pensacola, Florida

Delays: Some minor delays in a construction project are all but guaranteed to occur. Normally, if contracts require a specific completion date, the contractor will give itself longer than the project would take under ideal circumstances, to account for possible delays. Additionally, construction contracts usually attempt to insure against delays, such as imposing fees on contractors if the project is delayed beyond a certain point. If no such clause is included in a contract, a court will usually award the client damages that could have been reasonably anticipated at the time the contract was entered into.

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 normally 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 (normally 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 authorizes 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 Pensacola, Florida Attorney Help?

Construction disputes can be time-consuming and costly. Hiring a brilliant Pensacola, Florida 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 Pensacola

Pensacola is one of the cities i the "Florida Panhandle" of Escambia County, Florida. The population is around 460,000 people.

What makes Pensacola a key city of Florida is that it is a sea port on the Pensacola Bay, connecting Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. Also, Pensacola is nicknamed "The City of Five Flags" because five governments (Spain, France, Great Britain, the U.S., and the Confederate States of America) have flown flags over it. Pensacola does not have just one nickname. It has many! Other nicknames include "World's Whitest Beaches," "Cradle of Naval Aviation," "Western Gate to the Sunshine State," "American's First Settlement," "Redneck Riviera," "Emerald Coast," "Red Snapper Capital of the World," and "P-Cola." From the long list of nicknames, it is evident that Pensacola is a city rich with history, innovation, and culture.

The economy primarily comprises of the health care, military, and tourism industries. As for the legal industry, Pensacola is also home to many small to mid size law firms practicing in many areas of law.

One of Pensacola's most popular attraction is the National Naval Aviation Museum. Other popular spots include the Pensacola Civic Center, Saenger Theater, and the Pensacola Opera.

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