It seems, Miami and South Florida has been in an unending period of construction and development. These projects range from residential and commercial buildings to considerable overhauls of the regional infrastructure, like passenger rail corridors. However, with construction comes the potential for disputes and even construction litigation.
Major construction projects, such as the Brightline rail project, involve a tremendous number of coordinated phases and moving parts. The failure of a single element, such as an engineering, surveying or planning error, can derail an entire development. Or, they can result in mistakes that can drain millions of dollars from the project’s budget.
A steel subcontractor that was hired to work on Brightline’s Miami station is alleging just that. The firm claims that subpar planning, along with poor practices in the project’s operations, resulted in more than $23 million worth of extra work. The overages arose from plans that conformed to neither the Florida Building Code nor the American Institute of Steel Construction’s code. As costly as redoing work that had already been done could be, the potential consequences of having failed to correct the work could have been devastating.
Firms that are involved in complex construction disputes involving non-payment, underpayment or the release of mechanic’s liens should consult with an attorney who is experienced with the ins and outs of Florida construction law. Construction litigation, like property development itself, can be complicated, time-consuming and expensive. The right attorney can help make sure that a firm is on the correct course for resolving a construction dispute, so that all involved can get back to work.
Source: South Florida Business Journal, “Brightline station subcontractor owed $23.1M for unpaid work, lawsuit alleges,” Debora Lima, Jan. 9, 2018