Akron Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Akron, OH

Construction Dispute Law in Ohio

Owners of real estate in Akron, Ohio frequently 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 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 typically able to resolve disputes amongst themselves. After all, both stand to gain if the project is completed, and the contractor is paid.

Even if a third party gets involved, it does not always need to be a court. Private mediators can help 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.

Litigating a construction dispute in Akron, Ohio is definitely not something that anybody likes doing. However, it is sometimes necessary, as a last resort.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Akron, Ohio

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 specific 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.

Owner's Refusal to Pay: If the contractor completes the project, and the owner refuses to pay the agreed-upon price, the contractor will typically file a lawsuit to recover what is owed. Of course, the owner will typically 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.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are hired by general contractors to assist them in large construction projects, typically 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 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 permits 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 Akron, Ohio Attorney Help?

Construction disputes and disagreements can be very challenging to deal with alone. The assistance of an Akron, Ohio real estate attorney can make the process of dealing with these disputes much quicker and easier.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Akron

Akron is the fifth largest city in Ohio. It is located in Summit County, near the Great Lakes area. In fact, Akron is about 40 miles from Lake Erie.

Some popular sites include the Cuyahoga Falls, the All-American Bridge, the Goodyear Polymer Center, and the All-American Soapbox Derby.

Interestingly, in 2001, Akron was named fifth on the list of "high tech havens" by Newsweek. It has also been awarded as one of the "World's Most Livable Cities," by the National Civic League.

Top employers include Goodyear, The Kelly-Springfield Tire Company, GOJO, A. Schulman, FirstMerit Bank, and Bridgestone. Of course, to support these businesses, and local residents, Akron has a very competent legal force. Many attorneys practice law and devote themselves to providing excellent legal services.

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