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He promised/agreed to refund me $2,500 due to the bad work and has been very slowly paying me for the past two years, although he has now been avoiding answering my texts for most of 2024 and I don't think he will finish refunding me what he promised. The job was $4,000 and he has paid back... View More 
answered on Oct 3, 2024
I'm really sorry for you. Unfortunately, the time to be vigilant is before you hire a contractor. As you now know, everything you now know about him could have been discovered by you before you hired him.
I'm sure you already know that deadbeats don't pay their bills.... View More
I hired a contractor to work on my house to perform an addition and remodeling (about 900 SF). We discovered so many problems after the work was about to finish. I have reported the contractor to the CSLB which brought an expert who evaluated the work and wrote a report about most of the damage.... View More
answered on Sep 13, 2024
Like Mr. Stoddard suggest, finding an attorney to take this case on a contingency basis will be very, very difficult, at best. Attorneys take cases on a contingency basis when they are 99% convinced of success, a huge profit and the judgment is immediately paid in full. An attorney cannot afford to... View More
I hired a contractor to work on my house to perform an addition and remodeling (about 900 SF). We discovered so many problems after the work was about to finish. I have reported the contractor to the CSLB which brought an expert who evaluated the work and wrote a report about most of the damage.... View More
answered on Sep 13, 2024
What you describe is not the typical type of case that most attorneys will take on a contingency basis (at least from my experience). For something like this, I would charge an hourly rate to serve a demand letter and/or litigate the matter and whatever is recovered at the end would be yours.... View More
The contract between me and the contractor does not state anywhere for roofing to be put on me for HVAC installation; however, it was. I agreed to pay the roofing for the job the day of installation as they brought it up, but fast forward, the price for roofing doubled. I believe because of the... View More
answered on Jul 4, 2024
Thank you for your question!
Did you have a written contract with the company before starting the work? If yes, then you may limit the price only to the reasonable value of their performed job for the roof.
In general under unjust enrichment legal theory, at least you should pay... View More
I cannot afford to retain attorney, likely litigation, and high priced land surveyors but compensation is owed. It has been ongoing for 5+ years. They intentionally demolished the shared block wall when i was not paying attention forcing me to resign myself to them rebuilding it 2" in our... View More
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answered on Jul 3, 2024
Here are some potential options to pursue your case without retaining an expensive attorney:
1. Small Claims Court:
- For claims up to $12,500, you can file in small claims court without an attorney.
- This is a simpler, faster process designed for self-representation.... View More
The restoration company led us to believe that our insurance policy included coverage for damages. We called our insurance co and a plumber when we noted the leak. Insurance co. was there within hrs. and asked to see insurance policy. He began quoting dollar figures that we would be compensated... View More
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answered on Jul 1, 2024
This is a complex situation that involves multiple areas of law, including insurance, contract, and potentially elder law. Here's a breakdown of the key issues and some potential steps you might consider:
1. Insurance Claim Denial:
- Review your insurance policy carefully to... View More
I have a small repair shop. I have a job that is needing be done outside of my repair shop. The contractors license is necessary for the dollar amount. My employee is a licensed contractor but is working for me under my Workmen’s Comp.. Can I do the job under her contractors license, if she is... View More
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answered on Jun 27, 2024
1. Generally, a contractor's license is not transferable. You cannot simply "use" your employee's license for your business operations.
2. In California, the person or entity performing contracting work must hold the appropriate license. If your business is performing... View More
Tenant claims he got work done in Sept 2022 on rental property with permission from the deceased spouse of the landlord but the surviving spouse does not know about work or permission. No written contract or permission but the tenant has videos of work being done in Sept 2022.
The surviving... View More
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answered on Jun 21, 2024
This is a complex situation involving several areas of California law. Let's break down the key issues and address your questions:
1) How should the landlord handle this Claim of Mechanics Lien & proceed with sale of property?
The landlord should take this claim seriously,... View More
Got my roof installed, representative quoted me 27k and guaranteed that my roof wouldn't exceed the 15% included roof replacement. In the end, my roof was bad and he requested another 10k. Gave me a 4k discount but still was unhappy. The whole roofing project was sloppy and poor workmanship.... View More
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answered on Jun 15, 2024
Under California's two-party consent law, it is illegal to record confidential conversations without the consent of all parties involved. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, particularly when there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.
Here are a few key points to... View More
For our 300sqft addition, our contractor graded the existing property 3 feet below the existing soil level, exposing the foundation of the existing perimeter structures. We failed final inspection on 9 items (8 were uncompleted scope items, and one was that this exposed existing structure... View More
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answered on Jun 3, 2024
Under California law, a contractor is generally not entitled to final payment until the contracted work is completed to the agreed-upon standards and has passed all required inspections. Since your project failed final inspection on multiple items, including the safety hazard caused by... View More
I paid a construction company to build an ADU via lenders and I can't get an answer from them on any updates. I want to get my money back.
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answered on May 31, 2024
Under California law, if you paid a construction company to build an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) and they are unresponsive about updates, there are steps you can take to seek a resolution. First, review your contract to understand the terms and conditions, including any clauses about project... View More
I paid a construction company to build an ADU via lenders and I can't get an answer from them on any updates. I want to get my money back.
answered on Jun 2, 2024
Thank you for your question!
You need to document all your requests for an update and lack of any progress on your project.
If the company fails to respond in a reasonable amount of time, you send them a demand letter with the help of a lawyer.
If the negotiation fails, you... View More
No written contract signed by P & D for the repairs on D prop. P did some work without giving any quote based on a verbal agreement that he would accept whatever the insu would pay. P told D that the claim would be 20K but the insu approved 10K. In a week then D had to go out of state. D bought... View More
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answered on May 31, 2024
In a Trial De Novo for a small claims appeal in the Superior Court of California, you need to present your defense and supporting documents clearly and concisely. Start by organizing all relevant documents, including receipts for the $2,000 payment, proof of purchase for supplies, and any... View More
No written contract signed by P & D for the repairs on D prop. P did some work without giving any quote based on a verbal agreement that he would accept whatever the insu would pay. P told D that the claim would be 20K but the insu approved 10K. In a week then D had to go out of state. D bought... View More
answered on May 31, 2024
A home building contractor is governed by the Contractor’s State License Law (Bus & P C §§7000 et seq). This law defines a “contractor” very broadly to include anyone who does any work on a building project of any kind. Home improvement projects worth more than $500 must be in writing... View More
There are numerous text messages back and forth between the Plaintiff and the Defendant.
1) How to print and present all the text messages from cell phones as evidence in court for Trial De Novo - Small Claims Appeal? To take a photo of each text message and print that photo seems very... View More
answered on May 28, 2024
You can use different software such as Decipher TextMessage, iMazing, PhoneView (Mac), etc. make sure the software insert time, phone number, and other relevant information.
Authentication is usually required by a declaration or other methods.
There are numerous text messages back and forth between the Plaintiff and the Defendant.
1) How to print and present all the text messages from cell phones as evidence in court for Trial De Novo - Small Claims Appeal? To take a photo of each text message and print that photo seems very... View More
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answered on May 28, 2024
Here are some tips for preparing and presenting text messages as evidence in court:
1. Authenticate the messages. You'll need to prove the messages are authentic, not altered or fabricated. Options include having the other party admit the messages are authentic, having a witness who... View More
Ordered a pergola- which was about $32k, placed a 20% deposit on materials. Hired a contractor through the materials company which advised 60 days later that it would not be able to be installed due to permitting requirements that will not be feasible without a significant investment to restructure... View More
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answered on May 22, 2024
In California, the enforceability of a contract requiring full payment for custom materials, even if the buyer refuses delivery, depends on the specific terms of the purchase agreement and the circumstances surrounding the transaction.
Generally, a deposit serves as a form of security for... View More
Ordered a pergola- which was about $32k, placed a 20% deposit on materials. Hired a contractor through the materials company which advised 60 days later that it would not be able to be installed due to permitting requirements that will not be feasible without a significant investment to restructure... View More
answered on May 21, 2024
The general rule in CA in a number of places/ways is simply, you did not get what you paid for and you are entitled to a full refund. Sounds like they will NOT give it voluntarily. Their position seeking payment in full is not based on any law I've ever heard of. Regardless, their position... View More
My house was caught on fire back in February 2022. During the time we were displaced and were renting a home paid for by my home insurance, our contractor stated that they hadn't begun work yet pending permit approval etc. In April 2023 when my insurance displacement funding ran out,... View More
answered on May 19, 2024
Thank you for your question!
You can bring a breach of contract, implied warranty, express warranty, or tort damages (e.g., negligent, emotional distress).
The house may need to be examined by an expert to testify about the damages.
Different factors may be involved such... View More
My house was caught on fire back in February 2022. During the time we were displaced and were renting a home paid for by my home insurance, our contractor stated that they hadn't begun work yet pending permit approval etc. In April 2023 when my insurance displacement funding ran out,... View More
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answered on May 15, 2024
Under California law, you have several options to address unsatisfactory repair work by a contractor:
1. Contact the contractor: First, try to resolve the issue directly with the contractor. Provide a detailed list of the problems and request that they fix the issues under warranty. Keep... View More
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