Construction Law
Common Reasons Why Contractors Seek the Counsel of a Jacksonville Construction Lawyer Part 1
A lawyer can be a powerful ally for a contractor that is focused on growing their business and dominating their market. When your mind is on the money, you don’t want to let periphery concerns throw your focus off-kilter. Partnering with a lawyer that has worked on project sites and in courtrooms gives you a distinct advantage over your competition, protects you against litigious owners, and ensures that your projects avoid missed deadlines by maintaining legal compliance.
In this two-part series, a Jacksonville construction lawyer from Cotney Attorneys & Consultants will discuss some of the common reasons why contractors seek their counsel. If you’ve become the target of a claim, our lawyers are prepared to step up and take your case. Our nationwide construction law firm has helped hundreds of contractors protect their businesses in and out of the courtroom with a variety of services, including license defense, lien law, contract review, and more.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Saves Money
What many contractors fail to realize is that a lawyer can assist with disputes both in and out of the courtroom. In fact, our Jacksonville construction lawyers can assist with alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation and arbitration to help you save money on legal costs and preserve business relationships. Litigation is expensive and time-consuming. Even if the verdict is in your favor, the decision can be appealed, leading to more time away from the project site.
Small disputes can usually be hashed out in one or two mediation sessions. Mediation is comparatively inexpensive and uncomplicated. Generally, parties are interested in maintaining the strength of their business relationship, so mediation helps flesh out the dispute without necessarily “raising the stakes” for either party. Conversely, arbitration results in a binding decision, but the dispute is kept private and schedules are based on the availability of the disputing parties. The arbitrator is an impartial third-party, so it’s up to your Jacksonville construction lawyer to explain why you are deserving of a favorable verdict. With either method, the dispute will be resolved quickly without excessive legal fees or court costs cutting into your cash flow.
OSHA Defense Keeps Your Project Site Operable
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is ramping up its efforts against contractors who fail to maintain compliance. An OSHA compliance officer can appear at anytime to survey your project site. If you aren’t careful, you could be issued a costly citation and a stop-work order. Our experienced Jacksonville construction lawyers can think like OSHA compliance officers to help you prepare your project site for a potential inspection. That way, when your project site is targeted for an inspection, you’ll be ready.
Additionally, a lawyer can challenge a violation on your behalf. Other services include requesting an informal conference, asking for proof of the violation, submitting a notice to contest, and posting violations as required by law.
To learn about other common reasons why contractors seek the counsel of a Jacksonville construction lawyer, read part two.
If you would like to speak with one of our Jacksonville construction lawyers, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.