[WSBARP] contractor dispute

[Ryan Sternoff]

As a legal matter, the contractor has a right to notice and opportunity to cure before you can (properly) have somebody else perform the work.  This may be dictated by contract and exists at common law as an implied term of contract.  If the Owner does not provide such opportunity to cure, he may be in material breach and have compromised his right to seek damages from the contractor for performing the corrective work.  I agree with Greg’s practical advice.

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From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com] On Behalf Of Gregory L. Ursich
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 9:11 AM
To: WSBA Real Property Listserv <wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: Re: [WSBARP] contractor dispute

Matthew: As a practical matter, I would work out a deal where the contractor comes back to finish the work, subject to an inspection by an independent building inspector or second contractor that the work meets specs and code. You can also reserve your rights to still sue him for breach of contract for any overcharges. Construction litigation, especially when you have no written contract etc, is always going to "he said" "she said", fact intensive and expensive. Since you have no written contract,  you have no basis for attorney fees. One exception is if you sue the bond you may be able to recover some fees. -Greg Ursich, Inslee Best

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 26, 2016, at 5:51 PM, Matthew R. Johnson <matt at gravislaw.com<mailto:matt at gravislaw.com>> wrote:
Hypo,

Contractor performs sub-standard work, grossly over charges property owner for the work, and the building inspector issues notices of correction for the work before the job can continue.

Property owner and contractor’s relationship has already gone sour over disputes about the charges. Property owner would prefer to have another contractor correct the work and go after the substandard contractor for the expense.

Does the property owner need to give the contractor the opportunity to correct the work, or at least a reasonable opportunity to do so?

Matthew R. Johnson| Attorney at Law
Gravis Law, PLLC
P.O. Box 182 | 350 E. Main St.
Dayton, WA 99328
509-382-2030 (office)
Website <https://www.gravislaw.com/> - LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-r-johnson/2b/997/87a>

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