Oklahoma City Construction Dispute Lawyers

Construction Dispute Law in Oklahoma

Landowners and contractors in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma frequently contract with each other for major construction projects. With any large construction projects, some small delays or problems are all but inevitable, but they don't usually derail the project or lead to major disputes between the parties.

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 the parties can't easily resolve their disputes, and someone else needs to intervene, that somebody doesn't always need to be a judge or jury. Many construction disagreements call for mediation, during which a neutral third party helps the parties to the dispute negotiate a settlement. They might also go through arbitration, during which a third party renders a binding decision.

Litigation of construction disputes in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma can be extremely time-consuming, stressful, and costly. Nevertheless, there are (relatively rare) occurrences where it is the only option.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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.

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 decide 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: With big construction projects, contractors typically hire other, smaller contractors to do some of the work for them. This is typically 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. Nonetheless, 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 declines 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 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 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 crucial to hire an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma construction disputes attorney, who can advise you on the next steps in the process.

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Life in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is the capital of, and largest city in, the state of Oklahoma. It has a population of over 551,000 people, and its greater metropolitan area has over 1 million residents.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is home to a growing and diverse economy. It was once a major center for government employment and energy exploration, but its economy has transitioned into more stable and diverse sectors, helping to secure relative economic stability. In 2008, Forbes Magazine named Oklahoma City as one of the most "recession-proof" cities in the U.S. Its economy currently revolves around information technology, service, health care, and administration. It is home to 2 Fortune 500 companies, both of which are in the energy sector.

Oklahoma City has, unfortunately, become strongly associated with the 1995 terrorist attack against the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which is still the largest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history. It should be obvious, however, that Oklahoma City is far more than the site of a historic tragedy, and has a great deal to offer residents and visitors alike.

If you live in Oklahoma City, and need legal services, it's very likely that an Oklahoma City, Oklahoma attorney can help you.

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Oklahoma City Construction Dispute Lawyers

Construction Dispute Law in Oklahoma

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma