How to resolve a dispute with an Arizona contractor

Question: We hired a contractor for $200,000 to build a large aluminum shed in North
Phoenix for our construction equipment. After several heated arguments about the
quality of the work, the contractor refused to finish the project. We had to pay an
additional $60,000 for a different contractor to finish the project. Although we could
file a complaint with the Registrar of Contractor’s Office, that complaint will not get
our $60,000 back. If we file a lawsuit against the contractor, with court delays and
attorney fees, we do not see a happy ending. Any suggestions?

Answer: Whether or not your paperwork with the contractor has a mediation clause, I
strongly suggest mediation with an experienced mediator such as a former judge. In
today’s litigation practice, the trial court will always require a mediation or
settlement conference before any trial. You can Google “Phoenix mediators” or
“Arizona mediators” to find the names of qualified mediators.

Note: Although former judges as mediators are more expensive, they are generally worth the money. For
example, nothing is more powerful in assisting settlement negotiations than a
former judge saying “I was on the bench for twenty years and I had dozens of jury
trials with disputes like yours, and here is how most of them turned out…”