North Myrtle Beach Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in North Myrtle Beach, SC

Construction Dispute Law in South Carolina

Landowners and contractors in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina commonly 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.

Most often, landowners and construction contractors are able to resolve minor to moderate disagreements between themselves, and litigation is rarely necessary. Nobody likes litigation, so, to this end, most construction contracts have built-in remedies in case something goes wrong, like set price reductions if construction is delayed.

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 normally 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 procedure through which the parties agree to have their dispute resolved by a third party, which can render a binding decision. Arbitration can be quicker and cheaper than litigation, and it has some other advantages, as well.

Because of the large cost in time and money involved, litigation in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is regarded a last resort. However, in rare cases, it does become necessary.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Construction Delays: Delays in construction are frequent sticking points between contractors and landowners. These delays can sometimes lead to litigation, especially if the construction contract makes it clear that time is an important factor, or if the contract mandates a certain completion date. In such situations, a court will often award the landowner compensation for any monetary losses he or she suffered as a result of the delay.

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 normally 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 substantially less than the contract price.

Subcontractors: Subcontractors are hired by general contractors to assist them in large construction projects, normally specialized tasks like installing plumbing. Nonetheless, 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 essentially 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: 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 authorizes 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 North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 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 North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina construction disputes attorney can be of great help.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in North Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a city located on the Atlantic coast, on Horry County. As of the year 2000, North Myrtle Beach has a population of about 11,000 people.

The area now comprising North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was first explored by Europeans when the Spanish reached the area in 1514. Blackbeard's pirates set up camps and outposts in the area in the 1700s, contributing to the area's storied history.

North Myrtle Beach is a very popular resort town, serving tens of thousands of visitors each year.

North Myrtle Beach is right on the Atlantic coast, and features miles of beautiful beaches, and warm waters for swimming in during the summer months.

Needless to say, tourism is a crucial component of the economy of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. There are many businesses in the city that support the tourism industry, including hotels, restaurants, and souvenir retailers.

If you live in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and need an attorney, it's very likely that you'll be able to find one who's right for you. North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina lawyers can handle just about any legal issue they're faced with. If you need legal advice, you should contact a North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina lawyer immediately.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Nicholas M.
Nicholas M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Golden, CO

Carl M.
Carl M.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Seattle, WA

David A.
David A.

Real Estate, Housing & Property Law

Walnut Creek, CA