Get free answers to your Construction Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I deliver lumber for a company. On Oct 20, 2023, I was delivering a load to a job site where the lift fell into a septic tank, which resulted in tearing my rotator cuff. I found out that the builder knew the septic tank was there, but only placed small flags to mark the area. Considering that... View More 
answered on Jan 30, 2024
You may have established the basic facts for a claim for negligence (failure to properly warn) against the land owner and/or builder of the premises. Lawyers refer to this as a third party claim since you also have a claim for workers' compensation.
My initial interest rates when got in pre construction contract was at 5.6% and know rates have gone up to 7.5% and our monthly payments have jumped up $300+ from when we gone in to contract. We wrote home builders saying that we may be holding off due to high rates, and wait a year or so. Then... View More
answered on Nov 10, 2023
The answer to your question depends on what the Third Party Financing Addendum to your earnest money contract says. Whatever financing option you selected usually has a provision that reads "with interest not to exceed ___ % per annum." The Buyer is usually required to apply for a loan... View More
I have a property management company who is threading to stop useing my services because I told the tenant then water heater needs replacement. I have a special needs child and a split if wife . They constantly threaten me with this as I am a new company ? But have worked with same property... View More
answered on Nov 7, 2023
I see no legal issue. A property management company can stop using a plumbing contractor if they want to. A plumber can tell a tenant a water heater needs to be replaced if it does.
This is for services rendered.
answered on Sep 29, 2023
Given the small amount involved, you might consider filing in county court at law pro se. Unfortunately, the jurisdictional limits of our JP courts is $20,000.
You might consider hiring an attorney if you are certain the proposed Defendant has more than sufficient non-exempt assets to... View More
We have a issue with our Building Erector that was supposed to finish a steel building for us which will be our home. We hired him back in June. He told us that they could finish it in within two weeks but we knew it would take them about a month because we thought two weeks is pretty fast but one... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Sep 4, 2023
Sorry to hear your problems.
The lien could only be from a supplier of materials.
If the contractor supplied the materials, you can reject any lien or attempt for the same.
You should get 2 different bids to finish the work.
In each bid u should require a... View More
Because the contractor walked off the job, we had a home inspector come out and inspect for structural integrity. He found that over half of the load bearing walls must be repaired due to being crooked. All the windows have to be removed, and header and footer boards installed. The exterior doors... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Aug 3, 2023
Yes, you have stated facts that support suing the contractor for damages for breaching the contract and a cause of action for a breach of the Implied Warranty of Workmanship, whether the contract was written or oral, if your claim can be filed within the applicable statute of limitations.... View More
I purchased a house with cash about a year ago. The inspector said on his report that it had pier and beam foundation issues. This was addressed with the owner and he told me that he already had a foundation crew come in and do some work and it has already been fixed it the best they could and new... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 29, 2023
Your only real move is to sue the seller. This can be successful if you have good paperwork showing that the seller was aware of the problem and then asserted that he fixed the problem. There is more to a lawsuit than that, but that is the bare minimum you will need for proof.
See a good... View More
Major "settling" cracks throughout the home. One portion of drywall has pulled away from another in an upstairs corner.
Am I entitled to anything? What can I do? What's a reasonable settlement?
answered on Jul 12, 2023
You may or may not have a valid claim depending upon the extent of the deflection or tilt measured by your structural engineer and what he determines is the cause. The foundation and major structural components of a home are subject to a minimum warranty period of ten years from the date of... View More
Water leakage, sewer issues, window casings cracking out. All documented emails, pictures and work done so far.
answered on May 24, 2023
Common defendants in such a lawsuit include the builder, the soils engineer, the foundation design engineer, the foundation subcontractor who built the foundation, and the landscape design engineer who designed the landscaping.
It really depends upon what your structural engineer expert... View More
I won a small claims case in TX as the defendant and the Plaintiff was ordered to pay my attorney fees. My attorney billed me after the court date. Should my attorney bill me or the Plaintiff?
answered on May 2, 2023
Your attorney must bill you as you are the party who hired him and agreed to pay him.
You are entitled to recover your attorney fees from the other party
So you pay your attorney and then recover the same amount from the plaintiff.
Hi, We bought a brand new built house from a Builder mid December 2022 in Katy, TX.
3 months ago, my wife suspected termites. We called the builder company and the pest control company linked to the builder: They suspected termites but then they said it is not...
We got an... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Apr 27, 2023
A refund on a house purchase is a rare event. The hardest part of bringing such a case in your situation is proving that the termites were already in the house when you bought it. The second part of proof that you will need is that the contract did not say the house was sold "AS IS."... View More
OpenDoor was the owner/seller. We had it inspected before closing and it was noted it had been treated for termites but no mention of damage or live mites. We paid full price because opendoor would not negotiate price. After closing we found extensive termite damage and live mites. Many of the... View More
answered on Mar 30, 2023
In order to prevail in a lawsuit against the seller, you will need to prove that the seller was aware of the termite damage and infestation and that the damage and infestation were hidden such that they could not have been discovered before you purchased the home.
You mention the inspection... View More
a 3-5 day job has turned into 7 weeks, way over materials budget. I had to provide transportation everyday for him. somedays he did not show up, some days he showed up but did no work. I have cameras in my yard. I have a crappy shell of a shed and no money to finish the shed and he is now... View More
answered on Mar 9, 2023
There are some very specific requirements before a contractor can put a lien against your homestead. So, if this is your homestead, I doubt he can put a lien against your property.
On the other hand, a shed is most likely a removable. A contractor can use self-help to repossess a... View More
He was taking to long and missed several days, and I tried to communicate with him to check how We can proceed with the cancelation of this project but he is not answering any of my calls. Can He put a lien on my property? Do should be worried about it? Do I need to hire a real state lawyer?
answered on Feb 15, 2023
Yes, I would be concerned.
You should have consulted an attorney experienced in construction law before unilaterally terminating the contract.
A contract is binding on both parties. In the absence of a clear expression in the contract of a fixed completion date and that time is of... View More
I signed up to have solar installed on my home. The installer came out and put panels up but they did not finish the installation. I cannot use my solar panels. The finance company says I still owe them money, however.
The installation company is ignoring me and the finance company.... View More
answered on Feb 13, 2023
It's possible that you may be able to void the solar contract and the financing contract if the work was not completed. A lot depends on the wording of what you signed and on how Texas courts are currently interpreting these contracts. You will need to take all your paperwork to an attorney... View More
I am hiring a subcontractor - They do not have workers comp. Can I have them sign a release of liability?
answered on Jan 2, 2023
Yes, the TWCC has a specific form especially designed for this purpose.
The home seller in this case specializes in buying extremely distressed properties, hiring cheap labor to fix them up, then offers them to people with poor credit at high interest. One of the contractors who worked on a lot of the houses entered into verbal agreement to buy two houses on two... View More
answered on Jan 1, 2023
Contracts for the purchase of real property are required to be in writing. There is no such thing as a verbal contract to buy a house.
You can verbally rent a house on a month-to-month lease.
Short question is I had a lawyer that was going to take over my felony I was under the assumption that he had talked to my lawyer and got that paperwork taken care of I had called him regarding a court date he informed me that it had been canceled rescheduled in fact it hadn't been and now I... View More
answered on Dec 11, 2022
Retain a new lawyer and get the warrant taken care resokved,
*Mispelt road sorry*
I'm pretty sure the dip was caused by water somehow, because over time a fairly straight street turned into it. Every time it rains there is basically a small pond at the end of my driveway. We've contacted the city numerous times about it, but the last time... View More
answered on Dec 11, 2022
A Texas attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. There wouldn't be an injury case for almost slipping. The standard is one of actual damages. If it's an engineering-type problem involving inadequacies in municipal storm drainage infrastructure, you could... View More
I put in a fence and the client is satisfied with the work. However, after completion, the gentleman accidently created a divot in the yard. Client does not want to pay for the fence until the divot is complete. Hired someone to fix it and they were still not satisfied
answered on Dec 1, 2022
In the absence of contractual language to the contrary (which would be highly unusual), a customer cannot withhold payment for a satisfactorily completed project as a result of subsequent accidental damage to the yard not caused by the contractor or its workers/subs.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
