Tifton 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 Tifton, 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 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 usually 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 Tifton, Georgia is considered a last resort. However, in rare cases, it does become necessary.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Tifton, 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 certain 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 usually 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 significantly less than the contract price.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are hired by general contractors to assist them in large construction projects, usually 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 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 allows 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 Tifton, Georgia Attorney Help?

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

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Life in Tifton

Tifton is the county seat of Tift County, Georgia. It boasts a population of about 17,000 and is nicknamed "The Friendly City" due to its local charm and "Southern hospitality".

Tifton is well-known for being named the "Reading Capital of the World" in the year 2000. The city earned this title through achieving several goals such as reduced illiteracy rates and increased library circulation. Additionally, Tifton has been voted one of the Top 100 Small Towns in America, and has also been named the Cleanest City in America.

Notable points of interest in Tifton include the Coastal Plain Research Arboretum, the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), and the "Agrirama". The Agrirama is a large, 95-acre site dedicated to preserving Georgia's achievements in agriculture. The Agrirama houses Georgia's Museum of Agriculture and Living History Museum.

As you can probably tell, the agricultural industry is a large part of Tifton's culture and economy. Lawyers in Tifton, Georgia can help you address your legal needs which may be unique to Tift County. Tifton Municipal Court is where most Tifton lawyers file their cases. The municipal court is authorized to hear a wide array of legal matters.

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Construction Dispute Law in Georgia

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