Bellevue Construction Dispute Lawyers

Find the right Construction Dispute attorney in Bellevue, WA

Construction Dispute Law in Washington

Construction contractors and landowners in Bellevue, Washington sometimes end up in disputes when a project that the landowner contracted for doesn't go exactly to plan. Truth be told, in any significant construction project, a few minor disputes are almost guaranteed.

Normally, contractors and landowners can resolve minor disputes amongst themselves, without having to resort to litigation. Commonly, 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 someone else needs to get immersed to resolve a dispute, this does not automatically mean litigation is necessary. For example, the parties might attempt mediation, in which a neutral third party tries to help guide the parties to an agreement, but cannot render a binding decision himself. They might also agree to arbitration, during which a third party is able to render a binding decision. Arbitration is normally done through a private company, and may cost less than litigation, and is overseen by an arbitrator who is an expert in the relevant field.

Construction Dispute litigation in Bellevue, Washington is normally time-consuming and expensive. But it is sometimes necessary, normally as a last resort.

Examples of Construction Disputes That Might Lead to Litigation in Bellevue, Washington

Delays in Construction: Delays are commonly points of contention between contractors and landowners. Contracts sometimes have clauses which explicitly state that the project needs to be completed by a certain date, or penalties will be imposed on the contractor (reduced payments, for example). However, if the contract doesn't contain such built-in remedies, or one party refuses to abide by them, litigation may be necessary. If a contractor causes a delay that it could have prevented, it will normally be liable to the landowner for any harm resulting from it.

Owner's Refusal to Pay: If the contractor completes the project, and the owner refuses to pay the agreed-upon price, the contractor will normally file a lawsuit to recover what is owed. Of course, the owner will normally 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: With big construction projects, contractors normally hire other, smaller contractors to do some of the work for them. This is normally 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. However, 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 refuses to pay, the contractor needs some way to recover. This is where the mechanic's lien comes into play. It authorizes 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 Bellevue, Washington Attorney Help?

Disputes over construction delays or defects can be extremely taxing. Therefore, getting an accomplished Bellevue, Washington real estate attorney might mean the difference between success or failure in your business ventures.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Bellevue

Bellevue is located in King County, Washington. It is near Lake Washington and Seattle. Per the 2010 census, it has a population of approximately 122,363 people. The city is well-recognized now because in 2008, CNNMoney ranked it as one of the best places to live and launch a business. Recently, it was ranked fourth as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The city's nickname is "beautiful view."

Popular sites include the Bellevue Arts Museum, the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art, KidsQuest Children's Museum, and Meydenbauer Center.

Bellevue is also home to many practicing attorneys who have established their practices via small firms or local law offices. Thus, residents have access to competent attorneys who focus on providing personalized, as well as excellent, legal services.

Famous residents include Ann Wilson, Megan Hilty, William S. Ayer, Jeff Ulbrich, Deon Butler, Martin Harrison, Michael Brantley, Aaron Curry, and Tim Lincecum.

Overall, this is a wonderful city to visit or call home!

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