Navigating Contractor Disputes: Is It Worth Suing? Insights for the Global Citizen

There is no doubt that Alsiasi readers care about what’s going on in the world. They will always pursue knowledge to a degree that is bordering on obsession. However, where most sites are simply informational, by adding a legal aspect, they can get a broader, more sophisticated perspective on current events. Consider the phrase, “is it worth suing a contractor?,” This is an important question to consider when something has gone wrong with your property. It is also a slightly global question of whether and how you should proceed with solving the problem. All over the world, people are faced with the possibility of having to sue their contractor or some other party is in repair.

Whether it is a new roof, stone work, sidewalks, sewers, or any other construction project that might be undertaken, people frequently run into trouble. In the United States, typically, there is plenty of recourse for a person whose contractor has performed poorly, is trying to rip them off, or has otherwise wronged them. The right to file a suit rests almost entirely on the individual circumstances at hand. If one has been wronged in the United States, it is likely that proper legal recourse is available to them as an individual. But over in Europe, things are a bit different. Going so far as to make a claim to a contractor may be difficult, time consuming, and costly, even if there’s a good case to be made and you are likely to win.

In some cases, it might be better just to cut your losses, especially if you’ve hired a British contractor in a country that mainly speaks French. However, an exception is if you claim for damages in the French courts. A contractor who has still not repaired your home several months past the expected time frame for completion can be pursued with the full weight of the law. It may be possible for you to recover damages as well as repair costs, although the contractor can also counter claim for the additional costs incurred due to your unreasonable behavior.

It is also important to consider whether it is worth getting a lawyer involved. In some situations, hiring an attorney will end up costing so much more than you actually expect, because you have not exercised due diligence in selecting an attorney or you have signed a contract with your attorney that enables them to steal more money from you than they actually deserve. Is it worth suing your contractor? These are the questions individuals all over the world are asking every day.

For more information on legal recourse and contractor disputes, you can visit Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.