In a state north of Florida, there’s a contentious battle occurring between two building owners. Real estate disputes like this one often necessitate repeated visits to courtrooms and are often very stressful. It appears this one may finally be over, however, as an appellate court has upheld a $3.9 million payout.
The payout is for legal fees the court says one building owner now owes the other due to a lawsuit. One owner claimed structural damage occurred on his building during construction on the adjacent building, owned by the other party. The court based its ruling on a contract the two building owners signed before construction got underway. This agreement specifically stated that the owner of the building going under construction would pay legal fees of the adjacent building owner if any legal problems arose regarding the project.
The recipient of the payout said his side couldn’t be happier after six long years of litigation. The legal fees were sought in addition to damages. The building owner who ordered the construction had actually filed multiple appeals after the lower court’s initial ruling in the other building owner’s favor; however, with the appellate court’s decision to uphold the ruling, the case likely comes to a close.
Florida real estate disputes can be complicated matters; therefore, it’s typically best to seek assistance from an experienced attorney before heading to court. An attorney can review any existing contracts and all details of a particular situation with a fine-toothed comb to see if any options are available to tip the scales in a client’s favor. In fact, some savvy attorneys are able to negotiate agreeable outcomes without stepping foot inside a courtroom; yet, they are fully prepared to aggressively litigate any issue, as needed.
Source: bethesdamagazine.com, “Maryland Court of Appeals Upholds $3.9 Million Legal Fee Payout in Bainbridge Bethesda Construction Dispute“, Andrew Metcalf, July 19, 2017