Denton Construction Dispute Lawyers

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Construction Dispute Law in Texas

Landowners and contractors in Denton, Texas 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, the owners of land and contractors can end disputes before they get too serious, thus eliminating the need for litigation. Most contracts governing construction projects have built-in remedies for the most common problems, normally requiring the party that causes a delay or other problem to pay the other party a set fee.

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 disputes 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 a Denton, Texas construction dispute is never something that anyone wants to do. Nonetheless, there are sometimes no other options.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Denton, Texas

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.

Owner's refusal to pay: if the contractor finishes a project to specifications, and the owner of the property doesn't pay the contractor, the contractor will most likely file a lawsuit to recover the agreed-upon price. In such cases, the owner will normally argue that the contractor's work wasn't of acceptable quality. In these cases, the court must decide who first breached the contract. In these cases, it's the party who did not breach first who wins the lawsuit. If the court finds that the contractor breached the contract through sub-quality work product, the owner will not be accountable for payment (though he may have to pay for materials and labor), and if the court finds that the construction was acceptable, the owner has to pay, because he is the party in breach.

Subcontractor Disputes: When a construction company is contracted to complete a large project, there is normally a great deal of specialized work to be done which they aren't equipped to handle. As a result, they hire other contractors, who, in this arrangement, are subcontractors, to do some of the work. However, the general contractor (the one that the landowner hired to do the work) is still responsible for the completion of the project - if a subcontractor causes a problem, the general contractor is on the hook for it. This sometimes leads to landowners suing general contractors for the mistakes of subcontractors. If the general contractor loses, and has to pay the client, the general contractor can then sue the subcontractor for whatever amount of money it had to pay.

Mechanic's Liens: A mechanic's lien is a way for a contractor to secure payment if a landowner refuses 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 Denton, Texas 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 essential to hire a Denton, Texas construction disputes attorney, who can advise you on the next steps in the process.

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Life in Denton

Denton, Texas is a major city and the county seat of Denton County. It is best known for its world-acclaimed live music scene. The city of Denton has produced a long list of famous musical artists and Grammy award-winning performers. It is also an excellent city in terms of residential housing and employment opportunities.

Denton's lively musical culture centers mostly around the University of North Texas. The University runs an excellent music department which has sprung the careers of artists such as Norah Jones, Don Henley, Meat Loaf, and Roy Orbison. Many graduates of the University of North Texas have signed with major recording labels. The University also maintains Winspear Auditorium, which hosts concerts throughout the year. The presence of the University of North Texas as well as Texas Women's University helps to create an enjoyable "college-town" atmosphere in Denton.

Other attractions in Denton, Texas include the Golden Triangle Mall, which is a shopping complex that has more than 90 specialty stores. Visitors also flock to Denton to attend the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival and the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo. These annual festivities attract crowds of over 300,000 people.

Denton, Texas lawyers practice law in many different fields to meet the needs of the community. Lawyers in Denton are often members of multiple bar associations and civic groups. The Denton County "Courthouse-on-the Square" is a popular historic museum located in the city.

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