Construction Law
Stop Work Orders Aren’t Going Away This Summer
With the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) across the country, both essential and nonessential businesses have been disrupted. The construction industry in particular faces a variety of unique challenges, including the increased likelihood of dealing with a stop work order. In this article, we will discuss some of the ways that COVID-19 has disrupted industry practices and how a stop work order attorney in Florida can be of assistance. Remember, this is education advice. For accurate legal advice, consult the construction attorneys at Cotney Attorneys & Consultants.
Related: Dealing with a Stop Work Order During a Pandemic
COVID-19 Led to Many Stop Work Orders
Along with the health concerns presented by COVID-19, many construction projects were closed down by owners due to the uncertainty of the respiratory virus. A stop work order is the legal tool utilized to suspend work on a project. Generally, these orders are issued to “stop work” until an issue is resolved. These orders are commonly issued for failing to fix a hazard, workers’ compensation issues, or a variety of other reasons like contractors working without a license or involved in a payment dispute.
If you are issued a stop work order, the order will provide an explanation of what tasks are being stopped and why. The order will also provide some guidance on the steps to take to cease operations and some direction on how to manage these procedures. If you have been issued a stop work order in Florida, you should immediately stop all work on the project and reach out to a construction attorney with Cotney Attorneys & Consultants. Even if you feel the reason for being issued the stop work order lacks merit, you should never ignore a stop work order as doing so can result in significant fines and even criminal penalties.
Stop Work Orders Often Lead to Project Abandonment
In some cases, a contractor can resolve the issues that led to a stop work order and work will resume. In other cases, the contractor cannot perform the work anymore. This is common in situations in which the work was paused for a significant amount of time and the contractor wasn’t provided with any indication of when the work would resume. Unfortunately, considering the uncertain times this pandemic has introduced, many projects that received a stop work order may be considered abandoned projects in the future for one reason or another.
Contractors need to remember that any project that results in abandonment can also result in a breach of contract dispute. If you have either been issued a stop work order in Florida or you are dealing with a contract dispute, consult the construction attorneys at Cotney Attorneys & Consultants.
If you would like to speak with a stop work order attorney in Florida, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.