Griffin Construction Dispute Lawyers

Construction Dispute Law in Georgia

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

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 someone else needs to get involved to resolve a dispute, this does not automatically mean litigation is necessary. For example, the parties might attempt mediation, in which a neutral third party tries to help guide the parties to an agreement, but cannot render a binding decision himself. They might also agree to arbitration, during which a third party is able to render a binding decision. Arbitration is usually done through a private company, and may cost less than litigation, and is overseen by an arbitrator who is an expert in the relevant field.

Construction Dispute litigation in Griffin, Georgia is usually time-consuming and expensive. But it is sometimes necessary, usually as a last resort.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Griffin, Georgia

Delays: Some minor delays in a construction project are all but guaranteed to occur. Usually, 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. Furthermore, 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.

Owner's Refusal to Pay: If the contractor completes the project, and the owner refuses to pay the agreed-upon price, the contractor will usually file a lawsuit to recover what is owed. Of course, the owner will usually claim that there is a good reason for not paying, arguing that the contractor didn't conform to the project's specifications, or that the quality of construction was unacceptably poor. In such a case, the court will have to decide if the contractor actually breached the contract by doing shoddy work, which could, at least in part, excuse the owner's duty to pay.

Subcontractors: With big construction projects, contractors usually hire other, smaller contractors to do some of the work for them. This is usually work of a specialized nature, which the general contractor isn't equipped to handle (such as plumbing or electrical wiring). The general contractor is the one who is responsible for the satisfactory completion of the project. If a subcontractor makes a mistake, or causes a delay, the general contractor is ultimately liable to the person who hired them. Nonetheless, if they are sued for the mistakes of a subcontractor, and lose, they can then sue the subcontractor to recover their losses.

Mechanic's Liens: Sometimes, when a contractor wins in a case against the landowner who hired him or her, and obtains a court order for payment, the contractor will still refuse to pay. Since a money judgment isn't worth much without a way to enforce it, the laws of many states have evolved to allow what's known as a "mechanic's lien." As a last resort, if a landowner refuses to pay the contractor for work done on the property, the contractor can force a sale of the property, and keep the proceeds, up to the amount of money owed.

Can a Griffin, Georgia Attorney Help?

If you have a construction dispute, you should first try to resolve it amicably with the other party. If this fails, it is almost always imperative to hire a Griffin, Georgia construction disputes attorney, who can advise you on the next steps in the process.

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Life in Griffin

Griffin is the county seat of Spalding County in the state of Georgia. It has a population of about 23,000 and prides itself in preserving its rich history revolving around early American colonial life.

Griffin is also known as "the Iris City" and is famous for being the birthplace of Wild West gunslinger Doc Holliday, who was a friend of the legendary Wyatt Earp. The city has several museums which showcase artifacts and relics dating back to the 1800's. These include the Griffin Museum and the Doc Holliday Museum.

Popular places to visit in Griffin are the Sam Bailey Building, the Old Medical College Historical Area, and Hawkes Library. The city holds many events year-round such as the Fourth of July Parade, the November Chili Cook-off, the April Arts and Crafts Festival, and the Annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner.

Downtown Griffin is unique in that it incorporates what is known as the "Main Street Four-Point Approach". This is a strategy that focuses on the distinct areas of Design, Promotion, Organization, and Economic Restructuring.

Lawyers in Griffin, Georgia typically file their cases at the Griffin Municipal Court. More advanced claims are heard at the Spalding County Superior Court. Griffin lawyers generally handle a wide variety of legal claims and issues. The Spalding County Courthouse was also an historical landmark in Georgia.

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Construction Dispute Law in Georgia

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Griffin, Georgia