General Contractor Dispute Litigation
When a Construction Project Goes Off Track, the Financial Consequences Can Escalate Quickly
Hiring a general contractor requires a significant financial investment and a great deal of trust. When a project is substantially delayed, work stops, unexpected payment demands arise, or the contractor and property owner disagree over the scope or quality of the work, the dispute can jeopardize both the project and the property owner’s investment.
Attorney Alan Blose represents homeowners, commercial property owners, and other parties in contractor disputes involving construction contracts, payment demands, project delays, incomplete or defective work, change orders, and construction liens.
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Contractor Disputes Can Affect More Than the Construction Project
Payment Disputes, Delays, Change Orders, and Liens Can Quickly Complicate a Project
Unresolved Building Contentions Frequently Lead to Property Liens
Construction disputes often begin with a disagreement over what the contract requires. The parties may disagree about whether work was completed, whether a payment milestone was reached, whether additional work was authorized, who is responsible for delays, or whether the work performed complies with the contract.
These disputes can become particularly serious when a contractor records a construction lien against the property. A lien can create title issues and potentially interfere with a sale, refinancing, or other transactions involving the property.
Florida’s construction lien laws contain specific notice, timing, and procedural requirements. When a dispute involves a claim of lien, it is important to determine whether the lien is legally valid, what amounts are legitimately in dispute, and what options are available to resolve or challenge it.
1
Contract and Project Review
We review the construction contract, plans, scope of work, payment schedule, change orders, invoices, correspondence, and available evidence of the work performed to determine the parties’ respective contractual obligations and identify the issues driving the dispute.
2
Construction Lien Analysis
When a contractor or other construction professional records a claim of lien, we evaluate whether the lien complies with Florida law, whether the amount claimed is supported, and what legal options are available to challenge, resolve, transfer, or otherwise address the lien.
3
Defaults, Delays, and Contract Remedies
When a contractor fails to perform its contractual obligations, substantially delays or abandons a project, or when another material contract dispute arises, we evaluate the agreement’s notice and default provisions and advise our clients regarding the remedies available under the contract and Florida law.
4
Breach of Contract Litigation
When a contractor dispute cannot be resolved, we are prepared to pursue litigation. Depending on the circumstances, a claim may involve amounts improperly paid or retained, costs associated with completing or correcting the work, delay-related damages, lien disputes, or other damages and remedies available under the parties’ agreement and Florida law.
Strategic Representation in Contractor Disputes
Protecting Your Property and Your Investment When a Construction Contract Breaks Down
A contractor dispute should be evaluated based on the contract, the work actually performed, the payments made, and the evidence—not competing accusations about what happened.
Construction projects involve numerous moving parts, and disagreements can arise over schedules, payments, change orders, workmanship, project scope, and responsibility for unexpected costs. When those disagreements cannot be resolved, understanding the parties’ contractual rights and obligations becomes critical.
Our civil litigation team reviews the underlying agreement and project documentation, evaluates payment and performance issues, addresses construction liens when necessary, and works with engineers, contractors, accountants, and other qualified professionals when the dispute requires technical or financial analysis.
Alan Blose brings more than a decade of legal experience to representing property owners and businesses in construction and contract disputes throughout Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties.
What Drives Us
AMB Law Satisfied Clients Are Saying
Why hire AMB Law For General Contractor Dispute Litigation?
1
Unmatched Courtroom Authority
We are not plea-bargain lawyers. Alan Blose is a high-stakes trial attorney who commands respect in Broward County courts and aggressively litigates to win.
2
Direct Partner Representation
Your future is never handed off to a junior associate or paralegal. You receive direct, uncompromising strategic counsel from the firm’s founding partners.
3
Recovering Delay Damages
We don’t just sue for incomplete work. We fight to recover actual financial losses resulting from extended delays, including lost rental income, storage fees, and extended construction loan interest.
4
Comprehensive Vendor Coverage
Whether you are dealing with a master general contractor, a specialized sub-trade, or a private architect, our civil frameworks cover the entire line of structural command.
Many property owners assume that filing a complaint with a licensing board or involving local building officials will resolve an ongoing contractor dispute. While those processes may address licensing or code issues, they do not necessarily resolve the contractual and financial issues between a property owner and contractor.
When a project has stalled, significant work remains incomplete, payment disputes arise, or a contractor may have breached the construction agreement, continuing informal discussions may not be enough to move the project forward. Getting an experienced construction litigation attorney involved early can help clarify your contractual rights, address lien and payment issues, preserve available legal remedies, and develop a strategy for resolving the dispute and protecting your investment.
Experts in Contractor Dispute Litigation
Frequently Asked Questions:
Florida General Contractor Litigation
What options do I have if a contractor abandons my project halfway through?
If a contractor stops work or abandons a project before completion, the first step is to review the construction agreement to determine each party’s obligations and the contract’s notice, default, and termination requirements. Depending on the circumstances, the contractor’s failure to complete the work may constitute a material breach of contract.
Our firm can evaluate the agreement, payments made, work completed, and circumstances surrounding the contractor’s departure; provide any required notices of default or opportunity to cure; and advise you regarding termination and replacement of the contractor. When appropriate, we can also pursue a claim for damages resulting from the breach, which may include additional costs reasonably incurred to complete or correct the unfinished work.
Can a subcontractor place a lien on my property if I already paid the general contractor?
Yes. Under Florida’s Construction Lien Law, certain unpaid subcontractors, sub-subcontractors, laborers, and material suppliers may have lien rights against your property even if you have already paid the general contractor in full.
Florida law provides specific procedures designed to protect property owners when making construction payments. These may include carefully reviewing any Notices to Owner, obtaining appropriate lien releases as payments are made, and obtaining the required contractor’s final payment affidavit before making final payment. Because improper payments can leave a property owner exposed to liens and, in some circumstances, the risk of paying twice for the same work, it is important to follow Florida’s construction lien procedures throughout the project.
How do I challenge an unreasonable change order demanded by a contractor?
Whether a contractor is entitled to additional payment for a change in the work depends on the construction contract, the original scope of work, the reason for the requested change, and whether the additional work was properly authorized. A contractor should not simply demand additional payment for work that was already included in the agreed-upon contract price.
If you dispute a change order, document your objection and avoid approving or signing a modification you do not agree with before understanding its effect on your contractual rights. Our firm can review the original scope of work, change-order provisions, project records, and the reason for the additional charge to determine whether the contractor has a legitimate basis for requesting additional payment and what options are available to resolve the dispute.
Can I withhold money from a contractor's final payment if the work is defective?
Potentially, but the right to withhold payment depends on the terms of your construction contract and the circumstances surrounding the defective or incomplete work. Improperly withholding payment without following the contract’s notice, inspection, or opportunity-to-cure requirements could create an additional contract dispute or expose you to a claim for nonpayment.
Before making final payment, carefully document any defective or incomplete work and review the contract to determine what procedures must be followed. Our firm can evaluate the contract, the condition of the work, and the amounts remaining unpaid to determine what rights and remedies may be available before you release final payment or retain another contractor to complete or correct the work.
Are verbal agreements or text message changes legally binding in a South Florida construction dispute?
Possibly. Whether a verbal agreement, text message, or other informal communication can modify a construction contract depends on the terms of the original agreement and the circumstances surrounding the change. Many construction contracts require changes to the scope of work, price, or completion schedule to be documented in writing and approved by the parties.
However, a dispute does not necessarily end simply because a change was never incorporated into a formal written change order. Text messages, emails, payment records, and the parties’ conduct may all become important evidence in determining what was agreed to or authorized. Our firm reviews the contract together with the parties’ communications and project history to determine whether a claimed modification may be enforceable and how it affects the parties’ respective rights and obligations.
How Do I Schedule A Consultation?
Scheduling a consultation with AMB Law is easy. Simply give us a call at (954) 335-8118 to speak with our friendly staff and arrange a convenient time for you -or- schedule an online consultation.
We Are Here To Listen and Act.
We understand the fear, isolation, and uncertainty you are feeling right now. But you do not have to face the Florida justice system alone. Your consultation with AMB Legal is completely confidential and free of judgment. Speak directly with Elena and Alan, tell us exactly what happened, and let us show you how we are going to protect your future.
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