CONSTRUCTION LAW
Michael Knapp Recommends...
“Every homeowner should go to the Oregon Construction Contractor’s Board (CCB) webpage BEFORE hiring any contractor to do any work on their home to determine whether the contractor is properly licensed, their claims history, their enforcement history, and whether they are allowed by law to have any employees working on your home or construction project.
First, you must confirm whether the person who has bid on your project and who you are considering hiring is properly licensed with the CCB. Oregon law requires the contractor have its name, address and CCB number on the front page of any contract, which includes a bid.
If the person has given you a proposed contract, you should check the exact name on the contract to confirm it matches the CCB records for the exact name, address, telephone number, and CCB number issued to that contractor by the CCB. If you have no written proposed contract, please request one from your person.
If the information on the contract does not exactly match the CCB information, you may well be dealing with a fake contractor.
The same CCB number but a similar name or a different address, or a different telephone number could indicate that the person you are dealing with is not the same entity or person who has been properly issued a license by the CCB.
We are seeing a fair number of cases where fake contractors are using similar names as legitimate contractors to trick unsuspecting homeowners to hire them. When things go wrong later, and they almost always do, the homeowner will have no contract with a properly licensed bonded and insured contractor and recovery options are extremely limited.”
The attorneys at Knapp Davis Chartrey, LLC have provided legal assistance to almost every type of client in the construction arena. We have represented general contractors, subcontractors, material providers, homeowners, and commercial property owners. We are familiar with the construction industry and its applicable standards.
Construction Contracts. Our firm has drafted construction contracts for both general contractors and subcontractors. We review construction contracts for property owners and provide assistance including negotiating appropriate terms to include or exclude from contracts presented to our clients. Our experience allows us to quickly identify contract provisions that should be deleted or added to protect the interests of our clients.
Construction Disputes. Our firm has represented hundreds of clients engaged in construction disputes. We efficiently identify the nature of the disputes, reasonable alternatives for resolution, and if necessary, enforce appropriate provisions, laws, and contract obligations to achieve an acceptable resolution for our clients.
Construction Contractors Board Representation. Our firm has represented owners, contractors, subcontractors, and material providers in CCB disputes. We aggressively protect our clients by resolving claims against contractor bonds. We protect contractors against improper claims asserted by homeowners, material providers, and subcontractors. Our extensive experience in this area allows us to efficiently achieve our clients’ goals.
Liens and Bond Claims. Our firm has filed many construction liens and bond claims and has also defended such claims. In order to effectively assert such claims, the law and requirements must be strictly followed, because any misstep can invalidate the lean or bond claim. Our extensive experience with construction liens and bonds assures our clients that each and every step will be properly taken to protect their interests. When liens and bond claims are improperly asserted, we assist our clients in removing such liens and bond claims and, when appropriate, seeking damages.
Construction Defects. Our firm has extensive experience in assisting clients both in prosecuting and defending claims relating to construction defects. Each client needs to understand the nature of the defect, the responsible parties, the appropriate claims, and the appropriate damages. Our firm has extensive experience in evaluating each of the factors appropriate and necessary to assert and defend such claims.
