Construction Lawyers Serving Bucks and Montgomery Counties
If you're in the construction industry, you know a lot can go wrong from the time you enlist an architect, obtain permits, and finalize construction. So if you wind up in a dispute relating to building construction or some other structure in Bucks County, Montgomery County, or the greater Philadelphia area, talk to a construction litigation lawyer at our local law firm. If necessary, they'll help resolve your dispute through mediation, arbitration, or litigation.
Clients in our construction litigation practice include homeowners, contractors, subcontractors, developers, material suppliers (including a major home improvement retail chain), and financial institutions. So, our construction lawyers seek to handle our client’s disputes in the most effective, economical, and efficient manner.
Construction Law Issues Arise at All Levels
Federal, state, and local laws govern construction so that you can face legal issues at a variety of levels. For example, federal statutes dictate worksite requirements and hiring practices. Next, states impose additional regulations on top of federal laws. Those regulations concern anything from safety and employment to environmental issues. Pennsylvania, for instance, also has strict compliance guidelines regarding bid submissions. It also enforces a statewide building code known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC). Finally, city and county ordinances impact zoning and construction noise.
Apart from government regulation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates safety and health concerns at worksites. As a result, construction companies need to pay careful attention or face costly fines from OSHA or other regulatory agencies or be prepared to enlist the services of construction litigation lawyer.
With all these entities controlling construction laws and regulations, it opens the door for any number of legal disputes. Plus, laws relating to government contracts frequently change, allowing for even more legal concerns.
Typical Disputes Requiring a Construction Litigation Lawyer
Some of the most common construction-related disputes include workplace injuries, construction defects, timeline disputes, the scope of work, and contract issues. As any construction company knows, building permits and zoning issues also frequently present themselves. In addition, finances often come into play owing to budget excesses, increased material costs, or a project that falls short of expectations.
Fortunately, if you're running into an issue in Bucks or Montgomery County, you can talk with a construction litigation lawyer at our law firm. Equally important, our construction lawyers work closely with other practices in our firm to provide our clients with comprehensive legal services. For instance, you can count on our attorneys to address issues like these:
- Contract, business, and commercial litigation
- Construction defects and delay claims
- Contractor and Subcontractor Payment Act claims
- Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act claims
- Mechanics’ liens
- Real estate disputes
- Unfair trade practices and consumer fraud claims
- Warranty claims
What is a Mechanics' Lien?
A mechanics' lien reserves your right to seek compensation in the face of nonpayment by the party commissioning the work. In Pennsylvania, lien rights extend to contractors, subcontractors, or sub-subcontractors. Each can file a lien when they fail to receive payment for a completed project or materials provided for a house, land, or other real property.
You must file a notice of intent to lien to an owner 30 days before filing the Lien Claim. In addition, you must file the claim in court within six months of the claimant’s last work. Following the claim's filing, you must serve written notice to the owner within one month. Finally, an affidavit of service gets filed with the court within 20 days after service of the written notice to the owner. One of our construction litigation lawyers can help with the process.
The mechanics' lien creates a cloud on the property title and appears in public property records. As a result, anyone who buys the property takes the property subject to the contractor's lien. In turn, liens make it highly unlikely that you would be able to sell your home until you pay off or otherwise deal with any outstanding liens. Similarly, banks and lenders are ordinarily unwilling to refinance homes or lend against property encumbered by liens. So, you'd have to pay the lien off or reach an agreement with the filer to cancel the lien.
A mechanic's lien provides critical leverage to ensure payment for contractors, subcontractors, and supplies.
Need to Talk to a Construction Lawyer?
If you're dealing with a potential legal concern about a construction project, get in touch with a construction lawyer at our law firm. We have law offices in Doylestown, PA, Norristown, PA, and Cherry Hill, NJ. In addition to construction law, our firm can support you with other legal concerns like real estate, business law, or employment law.
