Construction Law Attorneys Serving Southern California
Construction projects bring together owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and lenders, each with money and deadlines on the line. When payment stalls, work is disputed, or a defect surfaces after completion, the outcome often depends on what the contract says and how quickly you act.
Kron & Card LLP represents clients in construction matters of all types and sizes. We litigate construction disputes, and we also help clients avoid them by building sound business practices and drafting and negotiating contracts that allocate risk clearly.
Who We Represent
We work with the businesses that build, and the owners they build for, at every stage of a project.
Property Owners & Developers
Commercial and residential owners facing defective work, delays, cost overruns, liens recorded against their property, or disputes with the contractors they hired.
General Contractors
Contractors pursuing unpaid contract balances and change orders, defending defect and delay claims, and managing risk across their owner contracts and subcontracts.
Subcontractors & Suppliers
Trades and material suppliers protecting their right to payment through mechanics liens, stop payment notices, and bond claims, and negotiating fair subcontract terms.
How We Help, From Contract to Closeout
Construction Matters We Handle
Our construction practice covers disputes and counseling across residential and commercial projects, including:
Construction Defects
Claims involving defective workmanship, materials, or design, from pre-litigation procedures through expert-driven litigation.
Mechanics Liens & Stop Payment Notices
Recording, enforcing, and foreclosing liens for unpaid work, and challenging or releasing improper liens against your property.
Payment & Bond Claims
Pursuing and defending claims on payment and performance bonds, and recovering unpaid contract balances and retention.
Contract & Change Order Disputes
Disagreements over scope, extra work, pricing, backcharges, and termination for default or convenience.
Delay Claims
Claims for delay, disruption, and acceleration costs, and defense of liquidated damages assessments.
Indemnity Claims
Tendering and defending indemnity and additional-insured claims among owners, contractors, and subcontractors.
Warranty Claims
Enforcing and defending express and implied warranties on completed work and installed materials.
Homeowners Association Disputes
Construction-related disputes involving community associations, common areas, and developers.
Land Use & Property Loss
Land use issues affecting a project, and property loss claims arising from construction activity.
CSLB Licensure & Compliance
Contractors State License Board licensing applications, renewals, bond and workers’ compensation requirements, disciplinary complaints and citations, and the payment consequences of contracting without a valid license.
Contractors State License Board Issues
A valid CSLB license affects far more than whether a contractor can legally bid a job — it affects whether the contractor can get paid at all. California courts have consistently held that a contractor who was unlicensed, or whose license lapsed, at any time while performing work generally cannot maintain an action to recover compensation for that work, regardless of the quality of the work performed. We advise contractors on license applications, renewals, qualifying individual and RMO/RME requirements, bonding and workers’ compensation compliance, and on responding to CSLB disciplinary complaints, citations, and license suspensions.
We also advise property owners and general contractors on confirming a contractor’s or subcontractor’s license status before a project starts, and on the remedies available — including disgorgement of amounts already paid — when work was performed by someone who was unlicensed or improperly licensed.
We Advise On
- License applications & classifications
- Qualifying individual (RMO/RME) issues
- Contractor’s bond & workers’ comp compliance
- CSLB complaints, citations & discipline
- Unlicensed contractor payment disputes
Common Questions About Construction Disputes
How long do I have to record a mechanics lien in California?
The deadlines are short and depend on your role and whether the owner recorded a notice of completion or cessation. Generally, a lien must be recorded within 90 days after the work of improvement is completed, and that window shrinks to 60 days for a direct contractor, or 30 days for other claimants, after a notice of completion is recorded. Most subcontractors and suppliers must also have served a preliminary notice, generally within 20 days of first furnishing labor or materials. Missing a step can forfeit lien rights entirely, so it is worth calling early. See our full guide to California mechanics lien deadlines →
A lien was recorded against my property. What can I do?
A lien claimant generally must file suit to foreclose within 90 days after recording the lien. If they do not, or if the lien is invalid, excessive, or the claimant never had lien rights, there are procedures to have it released from title. Options also include recording a lien release bond so a sale or refinance can proceed while the dispute is resolved.
Can an unlicensed contractor get paid?
In California, a contractor who was not properly licensed while performing work generally cannot sue to recover payment for that work, and in some cases an owner can seek return of amounts already paid. Licensing issues can decide a case, so we review them at the outset for owners and contractors alike.
Should I have a lawyer review a subcontract before I sign it?
Yes, particularly the payment, indemnity, insurance, and dispute resolution provisions. Terms like broad indemnity obligations, flow-down clauses, and waivers of claims can shift significant risk onto a subcontractor. A short review before signing costs far less than litigating those terms later.
This page provides general information, not legal advice for any particular situation. Deadlines and requirements vary with the facts of each project. Contact us to discuss your circumstances.