The most frustrating obstacle that gets in the way of a residential construction project is when a contractor suddenly stops showing up for work. Although there are a few valid reasons for a construction project delay, there also are just as many invalid reasons that beg the question, will a construction attorney help if a contractor never completed the job?
The answer is yes. A construction attorney can help you if a contractor suddenly stops showing up to work on your project.
Construction lawyers represent clients for different reasons when construction disputes arise, such as project delays and inferior work. An experienced construction attorney from Alves Radcliffe provides several types of legal support if a contractor never completed the job.
Review the Construction Contract
Construction contracts typically include complex legal language that leaves homeowners confused about what they legally can and cannot do. A construction attorney reviews the contract you have established with a contractor to determine the legal consequences, if any, when the contractor stops working on your project without a valid reason.
You can prevent legal disputes from developing by hiring a construction attorney to review a proposed contract before you start a project.
Act as a Buffer
Construction disputes, such as one that involves a contractor refusing to complete a project, can generate negative emotions on both sides of the dispute. For a construction dispute such as a contractor not completing a project, a construction attorney can step in to provide a more balanced approach to resolving the issue. Your attorney interacts with the contractor and/or the contractor’s lawyer to determine whether you can resolve the costly dispute without seeking a solution that involves the judicial system.
Conduct an Investigation
Experienced construction attorneys, such as the ones representing Alve Radcliffe, know how to conduct thorough investigations. From gathering physical evidence to interviewing witnesses such as the employees working for a contractor, a construction attorney can build a strong enough case that leads to a quick resolution of the dispute. Your lawyer also can help you avoid receiving a mechanic’s lien, which represents a legal document that permits a general contractor to get compensated for the work already completed on a residential construction project.
For example, a general contractor can ask to get paid for the $50,000 worth of work already done to repair a damaged roof.
Negotiate
As with other types of legal issues, resolving a construction dispute typically does not involve taking a case to the civil trial phase of the litigation process. Instead, both parties try to negotiate a settlement that resolves the issue. Your attorney submits an initial offer for compensation, which the other party can either accept or reject. If the other party rejects the initial offer, you might receive a counteroffer or notarized letter requesting the case continue to proceed through the judicial system. Several rounds of counteroffers can follow the initial offer until both parties reach a settlement or the case moves on to the civil trial phase of the litigation process.Before contacting a construction attorney, you should try to work out a solution with the contractor. You also can contact the Better Business Bureau and/or file a complaint with the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB).