Thomasville Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Thomasville, GA

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 Thomasville, Georgia, 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 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.

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

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

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 particular 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 normally 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 substantially less than the contract price.

Subcontractors: With big construction projects, contractors normally hire other, smaller contractors to do some of the work for them. This is normally 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. However, 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 lawsuit 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 authorize 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 Thomasville, 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 necessary to hire a Thomasville, Georgia construction disputes attorney, who can advise you on the next steps in the process.

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Life in Thomasville

Thomasville is located in Thomas County, Georgia, and is the county seat. With a population of 19,000, it is the second largest city in the Southwest Georgia region.

Thomasville is best known as "The City of Roses". The city maintains over 7,000 rose plants located in various spots throughout the city. Many residents also grow their own rose plants for display. A Rose Festival is held every year at the end of April, where rose cultivators from all over the world display their prize rose specimens. The festival includes street shows, dancing, vendor displays, and plentiful selections of food.

The city of Thomasville prides itself on preserving American history and culture. Popular historic sites include the Thomasville Cultural Center, Thomasville Landmarks, and the Thomas County Historical Society Museum of History. The historical sites attract numerous tourists every year.

Thomasville lawyers can usually assist you by filing your claim at the Municipal Court of Thomasville. The municipal court is the first avenue of relief for most types of legal claims. Many lawyers in Thomasville, Georgia are members of the Thomas County Bar Association in addition to the Georgia State Bar.

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