Cambridge Construction Dispute Lawyers

Construction Dispute Law in Maryland

When the owner of some real estate and a contractor enter an agreement for a construction project in Cambridge, Maryland, 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.

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 a third party gets incorporated, it does not always need to be a court. Private mediators can assist the parties reach a settlement, or a private arbitrator who is an expert on construction litigation can render a binding decision, if mediation and negotiation fail and the parties can't resolve their dispute.

Construction Dispute litigation in Cambridge, Maryland 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 Cambridge, Maryland

Delays in Construction: Delays are often points of contention between contractors and landowners. Contracts sometimes have clauses which explicitly state that the project needs to be completed by a certain date, or penalties will be imposed on the contractor (reduced payments, for example). However, if the contract doesn't contain such built-in remedies, or one party refuses to abide by them, litigation may be necessary. If a contractor causes a delay that it could have prevented, it will usually be liable to the landowner for any harm resulting from it.

Refusal to Pay: Disagreements 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 occasionally 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.

Subcontractor Disputes: With very large 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 crucial 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 Liens: A mechanic's lien is a way for a contractor to secure payment if a landowner declines to pay. In such cases, if the contractor sues and wins, he or she can sometimes impose a mechanic's lien on the property he or she just worked on. This allows the contractor to force a sale of the property to cover the judgment. It is usually used when other attempts to secure payment fail.

Can a Cambridge, Maryland 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 Cambridge, Maryland construction disputes attorney can be of great help.

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Life in Cambridge

Cambridge, Maryland is a city of about 11,000 residents. It is located in Dorchester County.

Cambridge, Maryland was first settled by English settlers in 1684, making it one of the oldest colonial cities in Maryland. After settlement, the area became an important tobacco growing center, and then diversified into other forms of agriculture.

In the mid-1960s, Cambridge, Maryland was a major hub of the American Civil Rights Movement.

Modernly, Cambridge is a relatively quiet, small town. However, in 2002, it received a major economic boost in the forms of tourism, employment, and convention attendance, with the construction of a large Hyatt resort on Chesapeake Bay.

Cambridge is also the beneficiary of a state program designed to revitalize and restore the downtown areas of many cities, returning them to their past place as the heart of a city's business community, because so much business activity has moved to the outskirts of cities.

Cambridge is a 90-minute drive from Baltimore, making it an attractive option for people who want easy access to the excitement of a big city, with the ability to go home to a small town.

Cambridge, Maryland lawyers need to be competent to handle many different types of legal issues. Legal issues can pop up when they're least expected, and often have to be dealt with as quickly as possible. A Cambridge, Maryland lawyer can make sure that this happens.

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Construction Dispute Law in Maryland

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Cambridge, Maryland