Construction Dispute Attorney
Construction disputes can stall your project and cost a fortune. We resolve contractor conflicts, defect claims, and lien disputes.
Call (770) 834-4107 – Free ConsultationProtecting Homeowners and Contractors
Construction projects involve significant financial investment and complex legal relationships. When disputes arise—whether over defective work, unpaid bills, or broken contracts—the consequences can be devastating for all parties involved.
At Met Lane & Associates, we represent both homeowners and contractors in construction disputes throughout West Georgia. Both sides of a construction conflict deserve strong legal representation, and we have the experience to provide it.
Whether you're a homeowner dealing with a contractor who left your project unfinished, or a contractor who hasn't been paid for legitimate work, we fight to protect your rights and resolve the dispute as efficiently as possible.
Types of Construction Disputes We Handle
Contractor / Subcontractor Disputes
Conflicts over scope of work, timelines, and payment between general contractors and subcontractors.
Construction Defects & Deficiencies
Substandard workmanship, code violations, and defective materials that compromise a structure.
Breach of Contract
When a party fails to fulfill their contractual obligations on a construction project.
Mechanic's Liens
Filing or defending against mechanic's liens when payment is disputed for labor or materials.
Payment Disputes
Unpaid invoices, withheld retainage, and other compensation conflicts between project parties.
Project Delay Claims
Compensation for financial losses caused by unreasonable project delays or schedule overruns.
Our Construction Law Experience
Construction disputes require attorneys who understand both the legal framework and the practical realities of building projects. Our experience covers:
How Construction Disputes Actually Get Resolved
Most construction disputes never see a courtroom — and that's usually the best outcome for everyone. The typical path starts with a detailed demand letter that lays out the defect, the contract terms, and what it will take to make it right. A letter from a law firm gets read differently than another unanswered phone call, and many disputes settle at this stage.
If negotiation stalls, mediation brings both sides to the table with a neutral third party — often required by the contract itself before anyone can file suit. When a fair resolution still isn't offered, we file in the appropriate court: smaller claims may belong in magistrate court, while larger defect and payment cases are litigated in the superior or state courts of Carroll, Douglas, Paulding, and the surrounding West Georgia counties.
Timing matters at every stage. Georgia puts strict deadlines on construction claims — a contractor's claim of lien, for example, generally must be filed within 90 days of the last labor or materials supplied, and lawsuits face their own statutes of limitation. Whichever side of the dispute you're on, getting advice early preserves options that disappear with time.
Construction Dispute Questions, Answered
My contractor did defective work — what are my options?
Document everything first: photos, the contract, invoices, and any texts or emails about the problem. Georgia law generally requires giving the contractor written notice and an opportunity to fix defects before filing certain claims, so don’t skip straight to demolition or hiring someone else without advice — it can weaken your case. From there, options range from a negotiated repair or refund to a lawsuit for the cost of correcting the work.
I’m a contractor who hasn’t been paid. How does a mechanic’s lien work?
A claim of lien secures your right to payment against the property itself, but the deadlines are unforgiving — generally 90 days from the last day you supplied labor or materials to file, with additional notice and follow-up suit requirements after that. Miss a step and the lien can be invalid. We handle lien filings, the follow-through, and defending owners against improper liens.
Is a construction dispute worth hiring a lawyer over?
It depends on the money at stake and the contract. A few hundred dollars is usually a magistrate court matter you can handle yourself. But when a dispute involves thousands of dollars, structural defects, or a lien on your property, the cost of getting it wrong dwarfs the cost of counsel — and an early demand letter often resolves things before litigation costs ever start.
What can I actually recover in a construction lawsuit?
Typically the cost to repair or complete the work, the difference in property value caused by defects, or the unpaid contract balance — plus, in some cases, interest and attorney’s fees when the contract or Georgia law provides for them. We give you an honest read on the realistic recovery before you spend anything pursuing it.
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