In Alabama, a lien claimant must file a lawsuit to enforce its mechanic’s lien within six months of the maturation of the entire indebtedness in the Alabama state circuit court in the county where the subject property is located (Ala. Code §§ 35-11-220, -221, -222). But as an out-of-state owner or contractor, what if you
Residential Construction
It’s a Family Affair: SCOTX Compels Non-Signatory Minor Children to Arbitrate Their Construction Defect Claims with Signatory Parents
A novel question arose over the past few years in residential construction law as to whether minors were subject to the contractual provisions in their parents’ purchase or construction contract. The contract typically has a dispute resolution clause mandating arbitration of all claims. However, asserting that the minors are not bound to a contract they…
In Georgia, Rely on an Affiliate’s or Individual’s General Contractor’s License at Your Own Peril
On May 5, 2020, the Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court summary judgment ruling dismissing a residential contractor’s claims against an owner because the contractor was not properly licensed. In LFR Investments, LLC v. Van Sant, after being terminated by the property owner, a homebuilder brought claims for breach of contract and…
Disclaiming Implied Warranties in New Home Contracts
In many states, the implied warranties of workmanship and habitability automatically attach to contracts between builder-vendors and new home buyers. Builder-vendors are defined as “persons or entities engaged in constructing homes on real estate they own for sale to the home buying market.” These implied warranties provide a guarantee against certain structural defects not otherwise…