Victoria Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Victoria, TX

Construction Dispute Law in Texas

Landowners and contractors in Victoria, Texas 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.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, 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 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 Victoria, Texas 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 Victoria, Texas

Major Delays: If the contractor or a subcontractor is at fault in causing a considerable 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 typically award the owner any damages that were caused by the delay.

Refusal to Pay: Contractors can be on the other side of legal disagreements, as well. Sometimes, the landowners who hired them refuse to pay. This is typically because the landowner believes that the contractor didn't perform under the terms of the contract, or that the work was unsatisfactory. If this is the case, it may ultimately be up to a court to decide who is right. If the contractor did, in fact, do poor work, the landowner will be excused, at least in part, from his duty to pay. If, on the other hand, the work was satisfactory, the court will order the landowner to pay the contract price immediately, and may award further damages if the refusal to pay was done in bad faith, or if it caused foreseeable economic harm to the contractor.

Subcontractor Disputes: When a construction company is contracted to complete a large project, there is typically 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. Nonetheless, the general contractor (the one that the landowner hired to do the work) is still accountable 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: 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 Victoria, 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 crucial to hire a Victoria, Texas construction disputes attorney, who can advise you on the next steps in the process.

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Life in Victoria

With a population of over 60,000 Victoria, Texas is a popular place to live. Victoria is located on the coastal plains of Texas, just thirty miles from the Gulf of Mexico and is nicknamed "The Crossroads" because it is only a couple hours from other major Texas cities of Corpus Chrisit, Houston, San Antonia, and Austin. The central location of Victoria provides for a great economy for the city. Victoria's economy is a healthy blend of retail, agriculture, industry, health, and education.

In addition to having many arts and recreation centers, including the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Victoria is also home to the Texas Zoo. Boating and freshwater fishing are also popular pastimes in the city, and many residents make weekend trips to Lake Taxana and Coleto Lake. With over fifteen baseball fields, endless running trails, and three golf courses, Victoria is a very active city.

In addition to arts and recreation, Victoria is home to some of the Lone Star state's top lawyers. Local Victoria attorneys have a range of practice areas and are always available to help their neighbor with whatever legal issue he or she may be facing. Great lawyers is just one more aspect of Victoria that makes it such a wonderful city to live in or visit.

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