Q: Can a sub-contracted electrician be sued for shoddy and dangerous wiring of a home? We keep finding problems and hazards
The sub-contractor was brought onto the job because he “needed work”. His duty was to rough in all electrical work. We are finding loose wires that are hot, wires that do not go to anything, and overloaded breakers caused by too many lights/receptacles on a circuit. We are now paying another contractor to repair the mistakes. I am seeking legal advice to have the original electrician cover the costs for his shoddy and dangerous workmanship. Is this something that will warrant legal action? I am in Missouri.
A:
Legally, yes you can sue the original electrician for not performing his work in a good and workmanlike manner.
But I would be very skeptical about the electrician having non-exempt assets from which you may be able to collect any judgment based on your statement that “he needed work.” That sounds to me like someone living paycheck to paycheck who hasn’t accumulated the type of assets from which collecting a judgment might be possible or easy.
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