D.C. Construction Litigation

Construction law, whether commercial or residential, is extremely complex. The reason for this complexity is that there are many different stakeholders in every project that each have their own interests. Thus, when these interests conflict, litigation or a form of alternative dispute resolution is necessary to ensure that the project will be completed on time.

Common Causes of Construction Disputes

Construction disputes can arise in several contexts, including:

• Bidding, Tendering, and Procurement
• Broker Commission Disputes
• Condo Construction Disputes
• Contractual, partnership, and joint venture disputes between stakeholders
• Construction Lien and Trust claims
• Construction Loan Litigation
• Fraud – Schemes, False Invoices, Inflated Invoices, or Fictitious Supplies
• Construction Management Agreement Disputes
• Demolition
• Delay Claims
• Disputes relating to procurement, bidding, and tenders
• Disputes with purchasers and pre-construction purchasers regarding delays or changes to the project, including claims for extras and variations
• Employment and contractor disputes, including construction lien claims and project management disputes
• Environmental compliance
• Financing disputes with lenders, both institutional and private
• Lending and Borrowing Litigation
• Project Finance Litigation
• Litigation – Project Development Disputes and Project Finance Disputes
• Project Management Agreement Disputes
• Regulatory and municipal law compliance
• Restoration
• Termination, Cancellation, Force Majeure Suspension of Contracts

It is important that you obtain legal representation that can effectively represent and advise you in any area of law that may arise as a project is constructed.

Stakeholders in Construction Projects

The District of Columbia construction litigation lawyers at Antonoplos & Associates can provide cost-effective representation and advice to those involved in construction disputes, including:

• Bidders
• Condominium Boards
• Contractors
• Construction Managers
• Developers
• Design and Build Contractors
• Designers, Architects, and Engineers
• Equity Investors and Equity Lenders
• Investors, Lenders, and Bondholders
• Insureds, Insurance Brokers and Insurers / Underwriters
• Lenders and Borrowers
• Managers and Employees
• Master Builders (Design and Build)
• Mortgage Brokers
• Mortgagees and Mortgagors
• Purchasers, Tenants, and Interim Occupants
• Private and Institutional Lenders
• Project Managers
• Subcontractors
• Syndicated Lenders

We encourage you to call us at 202-803-5676 or directly schedule your free, no-risk consultation with one of our skilled attorneys today.

Construction Fraud

Construction fraud may occur before, during, and after a construction project. Furthermore, this fraud can occur in a multitude of ways whether it is through fraudulent billing, misrepresentation of skills going into a project, or the surveyor that reviewed the land and its possible commercial abilities. If fraud occurs, it is extremely important that you immediately consult a construction attorney to minimize the possibility of further financial damage. Additionally, the longer you wait to file your claim, the more difficult it will be to win a case.

Immediate Legal Assistance

Depending on the severity of the dispute, the project may require immediate legal attention in order to save the project’s viability. Furthermore, any unforeseen legal delays could permanently disrupt the project. Thus, it is extremely important that you seek a District of Columbia construction litigation lawyers to preserve your interests and avoid significant financial harm. Typically, is you need immediate legal assistance, a construction lawyer will use one of the following legal remedies:

• Freeze and recover assets obtained by construction fraud
• Enforce and cancel construction liens and other charges
• Specific performance by contractors or subcontractors

Partnership and Joint Venture Disputes

In most cases, construction projects require that multiple parties work together to complete a project. Because entities need to partner in order to achieve the desired outcome, these collaborations will often take the form of a partnership or joint venture.

A joint venture agreement allows two or more businesses to merge their entities—or a portion of their products or services—to start a new business activity. Furthermore, each business contributes assets to the joint venture and the parties agree on how to divide the income and expenses that come from this partnership. In some cases, a joint venture is the structure chosen because the members of the agreement are located in different states or countries. While this agreement is contractual in nature, certain courts have held this agreement to mean the same thing as a partnership. However, other courts have considered the relationship merely contractual and not a partnership. A myriad of considerations has been used by the courts in determining whether a joint venture is a partnership. Furthermore, the courts consider the structure and management of a joint venture when considering whether this entity comprises a partnership.

Bidding and Tender Disputes

Whether you are a bidder on a construction project or a person initiating the tender process, legal issues may occur. For example, if you are bidding on a construction project, you may claim that your contractual or common law rights were breached by a property owner that is trying to say that you will get the contract if you forgo certain rights. However, If you are an entity initiating the tender process, you may seek legal assistance if the contractor that secured the bid lied to you about their skills or the price that they were willing to do the project for. Thus, both bidders and property owners require legal representation and advice to properly assert or defend against such claims.