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Construction Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Construction Law and Land Use & Zoning for New York on
Q: Hello. I live in a road that has a shared egress. What is a common road agreement for a shared road? How is it split?

There are 3 owners that live on the adjacent property. One is a farm with 28 acres, 9 homes and businesses. One is a restaurant with 2 acres. I own 1.9 acres and have 2 homes on my property. The farm with 9 homes and businesses has the most land and travels the whole length of the shared road. They... Read more »

Peter Christopher Lomtevas
Peter Christopher Lomtevas
answered on May 17, 2022

The type of easement described here is a roadway easement for ingress and egress to another parcel of property. In this case, ingress refers to having the right to enter a property, while egress refers to the right to exit a property. An example of this type of easement is a shared roadway through... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Foreclosure, Construction Law and Land Use & Zoning for Illinois on
Q: What Kind of Lawyer do I need?

I bought a home unknowingly there was an open permit pending that the contractor didn't close with the county. Now the County is requesting I close the permit and contractor doesn't have proof of them closing it out. I am unable to schedule inspections due to contractor unable to submit... Read more »

Frederick A. Lurie
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Frederick A. Lurie
answered on May 13, 2022

You will likely need a code inspection to make sure the work was code compliant.

1 Answer | Asked in Foreclosure, Civil Litigation and Construction Law for Oregon on
Q: I want to sever a civil lawsuit naming me and my son as co-defendants and help with civil procedure.

A building contractor that I individually contracted with put a mechanics' lien on the house where he performed work in Portland and is foreclosing. My son and DiL are the title owners of record, live in CA, and had no knowledge. I have no legal interest and acted as an implied agent, so... Read more »

TeAnna Rice
TeAnna Rice
answered on May 13, 2022

Everyone named in this action should hire their own attorneys to assist on this matter since everyone has their own interests in it. In order to have someone removed as a party, the proper motions need to be filed and granted - it's not as simple as just removing them.

You can find...
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1 Answer | Asked in Construction Law for California on
Q: Construction: we are using a contractor who we’ve lost confidence in.

We have a major rebuild for which we have a construction loan. Our contractor rarely comes by our job site and the project is run primarily by his crew. There are many parts that have been poorly constructed. Including support beams that hold up our new roof. His invoices are emails that demand... Read more »

James A. Greer
James A. Greer
answered on May 12, 2022

Dear Major Rebuild With Contractor Troubles: these types of situations are tricky, and it's nearly impossible in this forum to issue out a set of instructions to you (this, from a 35 year attorney who is a developer and a licensed Contractor). You have overlays of Contractor's... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Construction Law for Ohio on
Q: Am I obligated to pay?

In December I contacted a company to build me new porch steps. They said they would reach out to me at the beginning of the year for details. In February we were chatting and we discuss me paying half up front and half upon completion. After sending my address I never heard from them so I made... Read more »

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on May 12, 2022

If you don't pay, they could sue you. Depending on the facts, you might have made an oral contract with them. But it would be difficult for them to prove the terms of the oral contract it in court. You could deny there was a contract. If they did not give you the required consumer... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Construction Law and Contracts for New Hampshire on
Q: Customer breached contract when calling my insurance for damages; Terms and conditions clearly state - not liable

Removing and replacing roof including the framing. No roof, just tarps, some water got in. It was expected in this type of job, hence the terms and conditions. Customer filed a claim with my insurance even though the Terms and Conditions she signed directly states that I'm not liable for any... Read more »

William J. Amann
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William J. Amann
answered on May 11, 2022

It sounds as if the homeowner breached your contract by filing an insurance claim when she shouldn't have. I'd ask her to withdraw the claim. It sounds like she is also interfering with your General Contractor. Yet, since you stated things seem to be ok for the moment, that's... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Construction Law for Florida on
Q: FL Surveyor Mistake - new construction home positioned too close to drainage easement

The construction VP from our FL builder notified us that the surveyor made a mistake in the location of our house on the lot in the plot plan. It is too close to the drainage easement. Construction started, the tie in location was confirmed, and the house is now almost to the drywall phase. The... Read more »

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on May 6, 2022

Was the surveyor working for the builder or for you? If the surveyor was working for the builder, you could perhaps sue both for the cost of redoing the job.

It doesn't appear that a variance would work if the structure of the home could be compromised. Perhaps you are suggesting...
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1 Answer | Asked in Construction Law for Florida on
Q: Having a house built. 15 months so far moving slowly. GC changed the locks preventing me access to the house.

Had a roof leak friday causing damage to ceiling, walls, baseboards, insulation, etc. GC did nothing for 5 days to address the damage. GC keeps house at 85 degrees. Extremely worried about mold. GC claims he had sheetrock and insulation removed yesterday but when I went to check the locks were... Read more »

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on May 4, 2022

What is your question? Arrange with the contractor to inspect the premises; that way the contractor can make sure it is secure. You don't want the place left unlocked, do you?

1 Answer | Asked in Construction Law for Texas on
Q: Is it legal for a contractor to post pictures of the outside of your home on social media?
John Cucci Jr.
John Cucci Jr.
answered on May 1, 2022

The simple answer is NO!

Not without permission. If someone wants to use your image or an image of a property you own, for the sake of doing business, they must be given permission. I'll bet there was buried somewhere in your contract, where you have given the builder or the Genral...
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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Construction Law for Maryland on
Q: Maryland subcontractor claims contractor didn't pay what is the statute of limitations for him to file a lawsuit?

I am a contractor in Maryland and a subcontractor says that I owe him for work performed. His invoices date from April 2019 to December 2019. What is the statute of limitations and does it apply to each invoice or does it apply to the last invoice which would include all of them? Thank you

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on May 1, 2022

Generally, the SOL runs from the date of breach of a contract, or from the last date the money became due and remained unpaid. Sometimes, that is harder to nail down in some cases, and may depend on whether the subcontractor's claim is based upon a single contract to provide labor and... Read more »

2 Answers | Asked in Construction Law and Contracts for Missouri on
Q: Roofing contractor signs contract & accepts $9000 down payment for job. He uses money for himself

doesn’t replace it & doesn’t order roofing materials as promised. Isn’t contract breached at this point?

Robert Grant Pennell
Robert Grant Pennell
answered on Apr 28, 2022

As always, Mr. Eisenberg is correct.

A contract breach occurs when one party fails to perform (or whose performance deviates from) what was contracted. A common problem for contracting homeowners is the absence of required terms in the contract. To piggyback on Mr. Eisenberg’s example,...
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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Construction Law for Florida on
Q: Can I build a fence on my neighbors property with an "Exclusive Ingress/Egress Landscape and Wall Easement"?

Our "subdivision", built in 2005, is a collection of 1+ acre lots cut up from a former orange grove. There are no traditional subdivision roads. Instead each group of four parcels shares a non-exclusive ingress/egress easement. Our lot is at the end of one of these easements and there... Read more »

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Apr 23, 2022

Sure, depending on the exact terms of the easement. It appears that the "exclusive" was included to make sure that only you, or subsequent owners of your lot, could use the easement for access. But if it also includes a "wall" easement, it should be no problem for you to build... Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Construction Law for Colorado on
Q: Need help interpreting a construction proposal agreement

After project completion contractor want to charge extra for changes made during construction to meet code. The agreement states that "Any additions, alterations, or deviation to this proposal involving extra costs, will be executed only upon written orders and will become an additional... Read more »

James A. Greer
James A. Greer
answered on Apr 16, 2022

Dear Owner Facing Post-Performance Claim for Extra Contractual Payment: Your question has two areas of focus, the issue of a post-performance claim for Extra Payment and the potential pursuit of indemnity for the extra charges as against your Design Professionals. First, with regard to the issue... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Construction Law for North Carolina on
Q: If a home has 2 dogs which are constantly outside, do they need a fence between our houses? Legally speaking.

We have issues with our new neighbors as their fence is between our properties and its in a very bad shape, their dogs constantly pushing the boards towards our yard and we're worried they will end up yet again in our yard as they already did before. No civilized communication is possible with... Read more »

Ben Corcoran
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Ben Corcoran
answered on Apr 11, 2022

Without research into your local ordinances and codes, I can't answer whether or not a fence is required. But I would be surprised if it was. However, failure to keep the dogs on their property would likely be considered a trespass and could be punished under criminal or civil sanctions.

1 Answer | Asked in Construction Law for Ohio on
Q: Hello, home owner entered into a project with a concrete contractor. At the time of estimate provided him with a …

Drawing of the required work. He provided me with a estimate upon receiving the estimate it did not match the drawing/ scope of the work needed exactly, a conversation was had and an updated price was arrived upon based on the estimate to match the drawing. Nothing was confirmed via contact or on... Read more »

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Apr 11, 2022

There should always be a written, signed contract for construction work which specifically defines the scope of work, with signed change orders for any deviations from the contract's scope of work. The contractor might be in trouble if it failed to provide all the required consumer protection... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Contracts and Construction Law for Tennessee on
Q: My contractor hasn’t finished a simple job for 9 months. Can I just fire him or do I have to wait a certain # of days?

It’s a covered porch. Had to redo cement already. Is t building the roofline agreed to. I just want to cut my losses.

Bennett James Wills
Bennett James Wills
answered on Apr 7, 2022

Your contract would control whether you can fire him. If his lack of performance has materially breached your agreement, then you may have options. Consult counsel to determine your options.

2 Answers | Asked in Construction Law and Contracts for Missouri on
Q: Roofer took 9,000 down payment in Nov’21 signed a contract & roof wasn’t done until Nov 2022 Is the contract still valid

He used our money for his own purposes & then couldn’t afford to replace it, fed me lie after lie, I chased him down for a year. His dad finally loaned him the money so I wouldn’t press charges. I paid for all materials/labor. Finished the roof a year later Nov 2022. Now he wants to be paid... Read more »

Ronald J. Eisenberg
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Ronald J. Eisenberg
answered on Apr 5, 2022

Your contract governs. I think you misstated something. You claim that you entered into the contract in November 2021 and he finished the work in November 2022. We are only in early April 2022. Although it took longer than expected for him to finish the roof, unless you’ve suffered financial... Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Banking, Construction Law and Contracts for Ohio on
Q: Hired contractor to build home in Sept. Now April and still no permits. Can I cancel contract and get money back

Hired contractor to build home in September, he had one application for septic turned in that would be $20,000 over, it is now April and no permits have been issued. Looking to see options to get initial payment back and go with different builder.

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Apr 5, 2022

What you can do depends on the terms of the contract that you signed. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local construction law attorney who can review the construction contract and its requirements, and advise you of your options.

1 Answer | Asked in Construction Law and Real Estate Law for Oregon on
Q: My wife and I rented a condo. Construction next door knocked out a pipe and the entire complex had no water for 52 days.

It was during the holidays and we were forced to put a hotel on and meals on our credit card. Recently the insurance company agreed to pay for all but 20 dollars a day for our meal expenses. The entire situation really put us in a bad spot and now the insurance company for the construction company... Read more »

Katherine Goodman
Katherine Goodman
answered on Mar 29, 2022

If you have not contacted your landlord about reimbursement of the unpaid bills you can contact them as the landlord's insurance should pay for those as well. Additionally, as you are a renter you can contact a local landlord tenant attorney for advice on how to handle the request for... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Construction Law for Illinois on
Q: I am suing a construction company in small claim court. During discovery, how do I request a list of subcontractors?

I hired a construction company to do a gut rehab in my house. There are construction defects including a need to get the entire house repainted. I am suing in small claim court for the painting now and the case is in Discovery phase. I know the painting was done by non professional painters and... Read more »

Frederick A. Lurie
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Frederick A. Lurie
answered on Mar 25, 2022

You serve an interrogatory or interrogatories pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 213 and ask the contractor to identify by name, trade, address...etc each subcontractor working on your project. However, you need court permission to utilize discovery in small claims under $10,000.00.

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