A homeowner whose contractor breaches can usually sue for the cost of repair, a refund or other damages. In Ohio, a claim on a written contract is generally due within 6 years (R.C. 2305.06) while an oral deal carries a 4-year clock (R.C. 2305.07). Columbus owners should document the work and send notice before tearing anything out.
This page provides general information, not legal advice about your matter. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Owner-side. Evidence first. Fight to win.
Before you pay someone else to tear it out, document it. Ohio notice rules can decide the claim before a judge ever sees it. We work to keep them from deciding it against you.
Photos from every angle, with dates. The contract, every change order, every invoice, every text. A written punch list. A second contractor’s estimate that names the defects. That file is the heart of the case.
The disputes we take
- Work that fails inspection or fails in the first season.
- Jobs abandoned after the deposit cleared.
- Change orders and “extras” you never approved. See change orders and extra costs.
- Liens filed to pressure you into paying for bad work.
- Delays that cost you rent, a closing or a season.
Withholding payment is a strategy, not a reflex
Stopping payment can protect you or hand the contractor a breach claim of its own. The contract’s terms, what was finished and what was promised decide which. Talk it through before the next draw comes due.
Next draw coming due? Call 614-944-5151 before you pay or withhold.
Liens and counterclaims
Contractors often answer a complaint with a lien or a bill. We treat that as part of the fight from the first letter, check whether the paperwork holds up, and press your claim at the same time.
Which court
Smaller claims can move fast in municipal court. Larger or more complex ones belong in Franklin County Common Pleas, where discovery and experts matter. We pick the forum around what you need to recover, then build the civil case to match.
Why clients hire us
- We only represent owners in construction disputes, so there is no contractor client whose interests we have to weigh.
- We read the contract and the change orders before anything else, because that paper usually decides who pays.
- We move early to preserve your evidence before repairs erase it.
- We tell you when a repair deal serves you better than a lawsuit.
Read: Ohio contractor disputes, evidence and notice rules.
FAQ
Can I sue my contractor in Ohio?
Often, yes, if the work breached the contract or was done negligently. Owners can seek repair costs, a refund or other damages. The contract and the defects set the number.
How long do I have to sue a contractor?
The paperwork sets the clock. A signed contract gives you generally 6 years (R.C. 2305.06), a handshake deal generally 4 (R.C. 2305.07), and negligence or property claims can carry shorter clocks.
Can I withhold payment for bad work?
Sometimes, but it is risky. Withholding can strengthen your position or hand the contractor a claim against you. The contract and the work completed decide which.
What if the contractor files a mechanic’s lien?
Do not ignore it. A lien is a claim against your property, and we review whether it was filed properly while pressing your own claim.
What evidence should I keep?
Keep the contract, change orders, invoices, payment records, messages and dated photos of the work. Add a written estimate from another contractor that describes the defects.
Do you represent contractors?
No. In construction disputes we represent owners only.
What disputes do you take?
Owner claims over defective, unfinished or overbilled work, including abandoned jobs, unapproved change orders and liens.
Document it, then call
Call Columbus at 614-944-5151 before the next payment or the next repair. Don’t attach documents here. Call us and we’ll tell you how to send them securely.
Related
- Contractor disputes: evidence and notice
- Change orders and extra costs
- Civil litigation
- Business litigation
Jeckering & Associates, LLC · Columbus office: 10 N High St, Suite 301, Columbus, OH 43215 · 614-944-5151 · Mechanicsburg office: 16 S Main St, Mechanicsburg, OH 43044 · 937-896-2222 · staff@centralohiolegal.com · Hours Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:30 PM