Mount Vernon Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Mount Vernon, NY

Construction Dispute Law in New York

Owners of real estate in Mount Vernon, New York often contract with other parties ("contractors") for construction on the property they own. Such projects are likely to suffer at least a few minor setbacks, and any project also carries the risk of major setbacks, delays, or unexpected costs.

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.

Construction Dispute litigation in Mount Vernon, New York 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 Mount Vernon, New York

Major Delays: If the contractor or a subcontractor is at fault in causing a large delay to a project (several months, for example), this may lead to a lawsuit. If the contract stated that time was of the essence for some reason (maybe the project was a new store that the owner hoped to open before the holiday shopping season, for example), a court can usually award the owner any damages that were caused by the 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: With big construction projects, contractors usually hire other, smaller contractors to do some of the work for them. This is usually 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: If the contractor sues a land owner and wins, he will likely obtain a monetary judgment. If the owner refuses to pay, the contractor needs some way to recover. This is where the mechanic's lien comes into play. It allows a contractor to force the sale of the land or other real property that he just worked on, and use those proceeds to cover costs.

Can a Mount Vernon, New York 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 Mount Vernon, New York construction disputes attorney, who can advise you on the next steps in the process.

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Life in Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon, New York is a city in Westchester County, and borders The Bronx, a borough of New York City. It has a population of approximately 69,000 people, making it the 8th most populous city in New York state.

For a city of its size, Mount Vernon, New York is extremely diverse, with dozens of different ethnic groups comprising a significant percentage of the population. Owing to this, the city's motto used to be "A City That Believes," an allusion to the dozens of places of worship in the city, covering about 25 different denominations.

Of particular note is the city's Brazilian Community. It comprises more than 10% of the city's population, and is heavily concentrated in a large neighborhood which is characterized by many businesses and restaurants that cater to the community. The Brazilian community's presence in Mount Vernon can actually be felt back in their hometowns, in Brazil. Because most immigrants come to American to make more money, which they can send back to their families. This money has significantly increased the standard of living in several towns in Brazil.

The city's legal community of Mount Vernon reflects the city's diversity. Mount Vernon, New York lawyers can handle just about any case that might walk into their office. If you have a legal problem, you shouldn't hesitate to contact a Mount Vernon, New York lawyer today.

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