Berwyn Construction Dispute Lawyers

Construction Dispute Law in Illinois

When a property owner and a general contractor contract for a construction project to take place on some property in Berwyn, Illinois, 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 overwhelming majority of instances, however, these problems are resolvable, and do not lead to major disputes. Being rational, business-minded adults, landowners and construction contractors are usually able to resolve disputes amongst themselves. After all, both stand to gain if the project is completed, and the contractor is paid.

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 Berwyn, Illinois 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 Berwyn, Illinois

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 determine if the contractor actually breached the contract by doing shoddy work, which could, at least in part, excuse the owner's duty to pay.

Subcontractor Disputes: In large projects, contractors often can't handle every aspect of the construction, so they hire other (usually 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: When a contractor wins a lawsuit against a client for nonpayment of the contract price, and the client still refuses to pay, there is a problem: a monetary judgment means next to nothing if it can't be enforced. To solve this problem, the mechanic's lien has been developed. Essentially, if a landowner refuses to pay a contractor, even in the face of a court order, the court can force a sale of the property that the contractor worked on, along with all the improvements on it, and then give the proceeds to the contractor, to secure payment.

Can a Berwyn, Illinois Attorney Help?

Disputes over construction delays or defects can be extremely taxing. Therefore, getting an experienced Berwyn, Illinois real estate attorney might mean the difference between success or failure in your business ventures.

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Life in Berwyn

Berwyn is located in Cook County in the state of Illinois. It has a population of 54,000 and was formed in the year 1908. It is frequently co-listed with Berwyn Township.

Berwyn is known for being the fastest-growing suburb in Illinois. It is noted for having the largest collection of Chicago-style brick two story bungalows in the United States. The city boasts a growing arts community due to its Arts Council and top notch entertainment and music venues. It also has a professional equity theater in operation. Berwyn has become a haven for artists who are seeking a vibrant alternative to downtown Chicago.

Other attractions in Berwyn include the widely celebrated Houby Day Parade and the Fall Mushroom Harvest, both of which are held annually. An annual vintage car parade called "Cartopia" is held wherein Berwyn residents can showcase their prized automobiles.

Lawyers in Berwyn, Illinois practice in a variety of legal fields. Specifically, many Berwyn lawyers focus on finance and investment law. This is because the Cermak Road area has been nicknamed the "Bohemian Wall Street", since it contains a large number of savings and loans institutions. Berwyn has been reported to have the highest concentration of financial and lending institutions in the entire world.

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Construction Dispute Law in Illinois

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Berwyn, Illinois