Skokie Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Skokie, IL

Construction Dispute Law in Illinois

When the owner of some real estate and a contractor enter an agreement for a construction project in Skokie, Illinois, be it a house, landscaping project, or large office building, there's always a chance that issues will come up, no matter how careful everyone is. A few minor setbacks are almost inevitable, in fact.

Typically, contractors and landowners can resolve minor disputes amongst themselves, without having to resort to litigation. Frequently, construction contracts contain built-in remedies for mistakes and delays that can be easily corrected, such as payments to the owner for every day the project is delayed.

Even if someone else needs to get engaged 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 typically 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 Skokie, Illinois is typically time-consuming and expensive. But it is sometimes necessary, typically as a last resort.

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

Delays: Some minor delays in a construction project are all but guaranteed to occur. Typically, 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. Moreover, 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 disagreements, as well. Sometimes, the landowners who hired them refuse to pay. This is typically 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 further damages if the refusal to pay was done in bad faith, or if it caused foreseeable economic harm to the contractor.

Subcontractor Disputes: With very considerable construction projects, general contractors don't always have the resources to do all the work themselves, so they hire other contractors to do some of the work for them. Nonetheless, it is the general contractor who is ultimately responsible to the owner for the satisfactory completion of the project. So, it is very important to the general contractor that subcontractors do a good job. If the subcontractor causes a delay or other issue, and the owner sues the general contractor as a result, the general contractor can then go after the subcontractor to recover whatever it lost in the lawsuit.

Mechanic's Lien: When a contractor wins a case against a client for nonpayment of the contract price, and the client still declines 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. Typically, 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 funds to the contractor, to secure payment.

Can a Skokie, Illinois Attorney Help?

If you are involved in a dispute over a construction project, you should try to avoid litigation, and settle the matter as amicably as possible. However, litigation is sometimes crucial, and a Skokie, Illinois construction disputes attorney can be of great help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Skokie

The picturesque town of Skokie, Illinois is located just sixteen miles from the state capital of Chicago, and twelve miles from Chicago O'Hare International airport. Comprised of 10.2 square miles, Skokie is a popular town for city workers to live in, and was awarded the Illinois "Governor's Award" as well as being recognized as an "All American City" by the National Civil League.

Out of the entire country, Skokie was the first community to have a nationally accredited fire, police and public works department -- a distinction that places Skokie as a model city to many others inside and outside of the state. With all the awards and attention, it is no wonder that Skokie was named one of the 80 fastest growing suburbs in the nation.

Also on the rise in Skokie are lawyers. Whether working in Chicago or Skokie, local lawyers are skilled in anything a client may need whether it is a high stakes divorce or drafting a simple deed. Many lawyers come from the local law schools in Chicago, including University of Chicago Law School.

Skokie gets its unique name from the Native American term for fire. Skokie is home to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education center, and the city's large Jewish population makes it the only Illinois city that has more Jewish schools than Catholic schools. The North Shore Center for Performing arts is located in Skokie and provides the city with many cultural events and concerts every year.

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