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I fell into a trench on a construction site where underground wiring work was being done, and an exposed rebar punctured my left leg. There were no warning signs, barriers, or ropes around the trench. The rebar pierced my left knee, went in about 4-5 inches, and hit my superficial femoral artery. I... View More

answered on Apr 3, 2025
A Wisconsin attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. It could depend on a number of factors, such as your capacity there, what you were doing, whether the site was complying with safety protocols, etc. I'm sorry about your injuries, but if you approached a law... View More
I work in construction and we're required to meet at the shop to pick up coworkers and drive to the job site in a company vehicle. At what point do we start getting paid for travel time?

answered on Apr 3, 2025
At the time you are required to arrive at the shop to pick up the work vehicle. The fact you are driving a company vehicle does not change the rules regarding when you start your workday. Good luck to you.
I work in construction and we're required to meet at the shop to pick up coworkers and drive to the job site in a company vehicle. At what point do we start getting paid for travel time?

answered on Apr 3, 2025
Travel time should being when you arrive at the shop, since your employer requires you to pick up co-workers at the shop and drive them to the job site. This also applies your co-workers, since the company is providing the transportation.
Non supportive wall between garage slab between crawl space was leaning and was supposed to be fixed. We are now having the whole wall fixed because it was not fixed. There was supposed to be a shut off valve put in on the hot water heater that was not put on

answered on Mar 31, 2025
To win a breach of contract case, you need to be able to prove that the contractor violated either a specific clause of the contract or a warranty, express or implied. Next, you need to look at the contract and see if there is an arbitration clause, which would mean that if you claim breach of... View More
I am involved in a class action lawsuit against the builder as the second owner of my house. The lawyer mentioned that the distribution of any settlement would be 80% to the first owner and 20% to me as the second owner. Am I entitled to a larger percentage, and what factors might influence this... View More

answered on Mar 28, 2025
Yes, possibly.
If the same lawyer is representing both the new and old owner he may have a conflict of interest and should not be deciding how much you should get!!
If that is the case, you should immediately seek independent legal advice from a separate construction attorney !!!!!!!
I am a renter and my home experienced flooding three times due to a nearby construction site, with the incidents occurring in September 2024, February 12th, and most recently on March 16th. The February incident was particularly damaging. I have not yet spoken to the construction company but have... View More

answered on Mar 17, 2025
From the facts asserted, I would recommend a real estate attorney with knowledge of both landlord/tenant and construction law. It appears that your damages are caused by the conduct of the construction company who would, for all intents and purposes, be the liable party for failing to adequately... View More
I hired an LLC to build a fence for us through a friend of a friend, and we agreed verbally on the construction terms. We paid $3,000 in cash for labor, and we have material receipts totaling $2,300, with one receipt paid in cash and the other by credit card. The contractor promised the fence would... View More

answered on Mar 14, 2025
I can't say with certainty without all of the facts that you have a "solid" claim against the contractor, but if you paid for a fence, and two months later the fence fell down due to faulty construction then more than likely you do have a claim. Oral agreements are enforceable in... View More
I have a fixed-price construction contract in Florida for a $78K renovation. We signed it several months ago, and permits were just obtained three weeks ago. Now, the contractor demands an additional $22K due to increased subcontractor costs and refuses to proceed unless I agree, despite the... View More

answered on Mar 13, 2025
1. Does the contractor’s refusal to proceed at the fixed price constitute a material breach under Florida law? It may, as you mentioned the price is fixed. However, the contract may contain exclusions or exceptions. The terms of the contract would have to be reviewed.
2. What... View More
I had roofing work subcontracted with a one-year warranty, which was completed in August 2023. I've noticed a leak issue in January 2025. How long after the job is completed can the contractor be held liable for faulty installation in this scenario?

answered on Mar 7, 2025
It sounds like you contractually agreed to a 1 year SOL. Otherwise damage to property has a 3 year SOL. You are going to have alot of problems suing a subcontractor in any event, but you might look at General Sessions Court. Determining the defendant may be difficult. Try to hire an attorney.
I just got a provision of law 28-105.1 complaint requesting for corrective action. Due to alter my house without a permit. Can I ignore this request? Like I’m living it the house and I own the house would there be any future issues? The change was enclosing my front porch with walls for another... View More

answered on Feb 26, 2025
Eventually, DOB will issue another violation for failure to comply and enter a default money judgment because you ignored the summons and did not restore the porch to its original condition, obtain a permit, or amend the certificate of occupancy.... View More
I had a contractor replace water-damaged subflooring in February 2024. In November 2024, the vinyl flooring they installed above it began to buckle, prompting me to call them back. During their inspection, mold was discovered in the area they worked on. The written agreement specified replacing... View More

answered on Feb 24, 2025
You may want to verify the cause of this damage before filing any lawsuit. It will likely require you to hire an engineer or leak detection company to identify where the water came from and why there was a leak. Thereafter, if you can prove that the contractor's actions caused this leak and in... View More
I hired a contractor in March 2022 for a project in Lynn, MA, and paid $175,000 of the contracted $180,000. The contractor failed to complete the kitchen renovation and other work, resulting in water damage estimated at $25,000 and charging $20,000 for an unfinished kitchen. Despite attempts to... View More

answered on Feb 20, 2025
I assume you have spoken to him and made demand on him and asking for the money or the work to be corrected has been fruitless. You will have to seek the services of an attorney to pursue him legally. You may be able to obtain partial relief from the Massachusetts guaranty fund:... View More
I hired a contractor to work on my house, but he stopped showing up and doesn't respond to my calls or messages. I have a written contract and I've made four payments by check. I've filled out forms to sue him in small claims court, but I'm unsure how to "serve" him... View More

answered on Feb 13, 2025
Ultimately, a judge could allow service by publication. As a practical matter, you should exhaust all resources to locate and personally serve them. A default judgment isn't worth much if you can't find them. If you do eventually find them, they will undoubtedly try to set the default... View More
The contractor has done half the work and has received half the payment. For three months, he has said he will return and has given me a date on four occasions, but never showed. He gave me an excuse the first time, but never communicated why since then.

answered on Feb 7, 2025
You can sue in small claims or town or city court, depending upon the jurisdiction and amount. Once you are successful if you prove your case, you will probably chase your tail trying to get paid on the judgment unless you can garnish his earnings Often, contractors who take your money and... View More
I am under contract to purchase a rental property currently in the process of receiving a rental liceance from the city. My purchase agreement stipulates that the rental liceance must be granted before the deal is closed. During pre-purchase inspection, several major structural and health issues... View More

answered on Jan 29, 2025
The purchase agreement that requires the rental license to be granted before closing should also already include a clause for notifying the seller of inspection results and of your satisfaction with said results. If serious issues are found, the seller must either fix them or release the buyer from... View More
we hired a solar contractor to install a solar system, before sighing anything i told them we want no roof penetrations, because we have a standing seem metal roof. the said no problem at all. before they began i reminded them about no holes in the roof. the job was going smooth until the 21 of... View More

answered on Jan 27, 2025
The solar contractor is most likely responsible for repairing the hole in your roof caused by their installation. According to California law, contractors are responsible for their own negligence that causes injury or damage to the property they are working on. In your case, the contractor was... View More
Last year in Texas I hired a contractor to work on our house as part of an insurance claim. He offered to reimburse me for what I paid the public adjuster when the insurance company slow-walked the process, after I had paid him the full amount for a completed job. I paid him the agreed price. He... View More

answered on Jan 4, 2025
It would be highly unusual for a commercial general liability policy to cover your legal fees and expenses. That doesn’t mean you can’t get a judgment against the contractor—only that the insurance company is not contractually obligated to pay such fees and expenses on the contractor’s... View More
Can a mobile home manufacturer sell me a house on false pretenses? The manufacturer told us on the phone with the sales person that all studs on the interior of the home would be on 6” centers. That’s not the case. There are 24” centers in the entire inside of the double wide mobile home.... View More

answered on Jan 2, 2025
Your rights will depend heavily on your sales contract, warranty, and other written documentation. It would be extremely unusual to be able to enforce a verbal conversation with a sales representative that substantially varies from the contents of those documents.
That being said, most... View More
hello!
i need some advice; i signed a contract with a construction company on 6/24/2024 and they haven’t started work yet. i keep getting told “next week” by the office manager but it always leads to excuses. i don’t know whether to ask for my $18,000 deposit back or if i have to... View More

answered on Dec 30, 2024
I'm so sorry they've strung you along for 6 months - unreasonable! Unless there is a definitive start date in the contract or allowance for delay (e.g., starting job is subject to some event/action taking place), then there doesn't seem to be intent to perform. Although there is no... View More
I have a written contract

answered on Dec 23, 2024
The contractor may have breached the contract by failing to begin the project as promised, but the issue from the perspective of an attorney is whether enforcement of the contract in the courts is cost-effective. It is probably not cost effective. To threaten litigation might convince the... View More
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