A Practical Checklist for Business Owners and Contractors Late payments are frustrating. Unpaid invoices? Even worse. But how do you know when it’s time to stop chasing and start enforcing? If your internal efforts aren’t working, there comes a point where hiring a Florida business attorney for collections is simply the smart business move. Here are five signs … Read more
In the fast-paced world of construction, not every deal is formalized in writing — especially on smaller jobs or when long-standing relationships are involved. But what happens when payment doesn’t come through? Can you still file a construction lien in Florida if your agreement was verbal? The short answer: Yes, you can — but only under certain … Read more
(Need a Qualifier Agreement?, Go to our main qualifier agreement page for more infomation, Click Here!) Florida Statute 489.119 permits Construction Companies to designate a Financially Responsible Officer (FRO). This allows a construction company to bifurcate the construction responsibilities from the financial responsibilities of the company. This is used, generally, when a construction company utilizes … Read more
Can lienors that perform work on a construction project under a contract with a lessee (tenant) foreclose on the Owner’s interest? Quick Answer: It depends. The not so quick answer starts with a basic rule and continues with exceptions, all found in Fla. Stat. 713.10. Basic Rule: 713.10 (1) Except as provided in s. 713.12, … Read more
Florida law requires contractors to include 2 mandatory provisions in their contracts when the contract is for improvement to residential property, the Florida Lien Law disclosure and the Florida Homeowner’s Construction Recovery Fund. FLORIDA LIEN LAW MANDATORY PROVISION FOR DIRECT CONTRACTS Source: Fla. Stat. 713.015 Mandatory provisions for direct contracts.— Applies to: Any direct contract greater than $2,500 … Read more
In Florida, a party to a contract may seek to invoke the equitable jurisdiction of the Court to enforce a contract that does not accurately reflect the agreement made by the parties. If the Contract does not accurately reflect the agreement between the parties, a party can ask the Court to reform the contract to accurately reflect the true intentions … Read more
Oral Modifications to Construction Contracts, Florida Construction Law Many written contracts between contractors and owners contain provisions to the effect of “all modifications to this contract must be made in writing.” And when litigation invariably arises from non-payment for modifications that are performed without being reduced to a written change order, or other writing, a … Read more
Arrested for Unlicensed Contracting Unlicensed Contracting Broward County and Dade County have been setting up stings and actively pursuing unlicensed contractors. If you have been arrested for the crime of unlicensed contracting, we can help. Andrew Douglas is a construction litigation attorney and former prosecutor, and can help you to achieve the best possible result … Read more
Florida Non-Compete Agreements, Non-Solicitation, Non-Disclosure, and Non-Disparagement Agreements Non-Compete Agreements are disfavored by the Courts, as against public policy, but are enforced by Courts when they comply with Florida Statute 542.335. Fla. Stat. 542.18 – General Rule Making Restraints Unlawful- Restraint of trade or commerce.—Every contract, combination, or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce in … Read more
Andrew Douglas, P. A. is a South Florida Construction Attorney, our Construction attorneys handle all construction claims and construction disputes. We handle claims for all Florida Construction Contractors, including Interior Designers and Interior Decoratorss. A Interior Designers and Interior Decorators is defined under Florida Law as: “Interior design” means designs, consultations, studies, drawings, specifications, and … Read more
Andrew Douglas, P. A. is a South Florida Construction Attorney, our Construction attorneys handle all construction claims and construction disputes. We handle claims for all Florida Construction Contractors, including Mechanical Contractors. A Mechanical Contractor is defined under Florida Law as: “Mechanical contractor” means a contractor whose services are unlimited in the execution of contracts requiring … Read more
Andrew Douglas, P. A. is a South Florida Construction Attorney, our Construction attorneys handle all construction claims and construction disputes. We handle claims for all Florida Construction Contractors, including Air Conditioning Contractor. An Air Conditioning Contractor is defined under Florida Law as: “Class A air-conditioning contractor” means a contractor whose services are unlimited in the … Read more
Andrew Douglas, P. A. is a South Florida Construction Attorney, our Construction attorneys handle all construction claims and construction disputes. We handle claims for all Florida Construction Contractors, including Plumbing Contractor. A Plumbing Contractor is defined under Florida Law as: “Plumbing contractor” means a contractor whose contracting business consists of the execution of contracts requiring … Read more
Andrew Douglas, P. A. is a South Florida Construction Attorney, our Construction attorneys handle all construction claims and construction disputes. We handle claims for all Florida Construction Contractors, including Glass and Glazing Contractor. A Glass and Glazing Contractor is defined under Florida Law as: “Glass and glazing contractor” means a contractor whose services are unlimited … Read more
Andrew Douglas, P. A. is a South Florida Construction Attorney, our Construction attorneys handle all construction claims and construction disputes. We handle claims for all Florida Construction Contractors, including Architects. An Architects is defined under Florida Law as: “Architect” or “registered architect” means a natural person who is licensed under this part to engage in … Read more
One of the first things an attorney thinks about when defending claims based on oral contracts is whether such claims are barred by the Statute of Frauds. The State of Frauds is a common law defense which has been incorporated into statute in Florida. Traditionally, the Statute of Frauds requires a signed writing in the … Read more
In construction contracting subcontractors need to be aware of “pay-when-paid”(pay-if-paid) clauses in their contracts with general contractors. The purpose of these provisions is to make payment by the general contractor (GC) to the subcontractor (sub) conditioned upon the GC receiving payment from the owner. Simply put, the GC wants to pay its sub for completed … Read more
Overview The Miller Act requires that prime contractors for the construction, alteration, or repair of Federal buildings furnish a payment bond for contracts in excess of $100,000. Other payment protections may be provided for contracts between $30,000 and $100,000. The payment bond is required as security for the protection of those supplying labor and/or materials … Read more
Generally, public works construction projects must be procured by competitive bidding. Fla. Stat. 255.20(1). However, the requirement for competitive bidding in Fla. Stat. 255.20 does not prohibit application of any small-business or disadvantaged-business enterprise program or any local-preference ordinance.Fla Stat. 255.20(i). Local Preference ordinances are used by governmental entities to help local businesses obtain public work, … Read more