SHOULD I SUE MY CONTRACTOR?

Were you planning to finish the cellar walls? There are some moisture-management strategies that you can look into. A dehumidifier is a good, affordable, and minimally-interventionist start.

workisfun

in General Discussion 7 years and 6 months ago

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bksouth | 7 years and 7 months ago

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3 years ago we purchased a Brooklyn townhouse (with no original detail) hired a Design/Build company and completely gutted it. The only thing that was left was the front of the house (roof was even ripped off) We added a ten foot extension on all floors. The owner of the company has left us high and dry without the c of o (even though it was paid for) and has moved to eastern Long Island. He’s basically paid except for a few grand (I know, stupid) From the get-go, we noticed dampness on the cellar walls about the extension but contractor said it was normal. Now, 3 years later we have completely wet walls and black mold in the cellar. The wood floors on the garden level extension are so warped and buckled (from the dampness)that you would have a tough time skateboarding on them. I’m not a litigious person but I worry about the long-term affects with such a wet cellar and obviously the expense of all the corrections that need to be done. Should I retain an attorney?

CarmenR | 7 years and 7 months ago

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yes. retaining an attorney sounds like a good idea.

newtomehouse | 7 years and 7 months ago

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Can’t hurt to speak to an attorney but most of the time it’s a losing battle as contractors just close corps or change corps. Typically you spend thousands in attorney fees just to find out there is no one to sue. A friend of mine went through something similar and had nothing but attorney fees to show for it at the end.
The architect of record should be able to help you get your c of o. Best bet is to contact the architect directly.

hkapstein | 7 years and 7 months ago

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Try looking into the Home Improvement Contractor Trust Fund.

yudashasom | 7 years and 7 months ago

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Isn’t a CO the architect/expeditors job?

workisfun | 7 years and 7 months ago

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In the meantime, address the water issue, so you can get the mold under control and eliminated. That can cause serious health issues. Save all your receipts.

slopefarm | 7 years and 6 months ago

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Workisfun is right. Fix your problem first. The longer it goes on, the more damage the water and mold will do, and the more the contractor can say was your fault for not getting on the problem quickly. Keep receipts for everything, but also take photos, now and when any walls are open, of any work you have done, etc. document the damage and the faulty work etc. Listen to what your new contractors say about what they see was done wrong, and keep copious contemporaneous notes of everything you see.

When you know roughly the cost of remediation/repair etc., then talk to an experienced construction lawyer. You want to know whether, from a pure dollars and cents perspective, this is worth suing over. How much are your damages, how much with litigation cost, what is the likely recovery, how long will it take, and is the defendant judgment-proof (and has insurance etc).

bksouth | 7 years and 6 months ago

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Thanks for all your input. Yes, the architect and expediter are in the process of getting the new C of O but it’s been like pulling teeth-they let things expire and its been another big headache. I’ve had an inspector come by to take a look at the extension and the cellar walls. He suspects they failed to put a vapor barrier on the slab extension and that the basement walls were not properly waterproofed when the extension was built overtop.

Lurker | 7 years and 6 months ago

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Another route that works but is slow–gather your contract and receipts or stubs for payment, do the math on how much was done, what wasn’t, what the difference was, adn then if the current work wasn’t done to your spec or wasn’t done as agreed, note what an estimate says it will cost. Then—if and only if the GC was a licensed and insurance-paying contractror—you can file a complaint with DCA (dept of consumer affairs). It takes like 45 days to respond, plus a reasonable few months to allow the contractor to remedy, but if they don’t then the DCA has the power to revoke their license, to sanction and fine them too. Long story, search archives, but it got us back substantial sums for work that was paid out but not accomplished. If he doesn’t pay, then a judge may allow you to be repaid fromm an insurance fund that all the licensed contractors have to pay into. You may not get everything, you may still need to sue, it will take you a year, but if you aren’t a position to wave away at lost money then it’s worth the hassle.