Painting/legal/ I'm frustrated!?
I have a house I recently sold. In the purchase and sale we had it said that I would paint the house for them (not stated that a pro had to do it). I hired a friend who painted the body of the house and got arrested the next morning and went to jail.
The body has quite a few touchups needed that he said he would have fixed up the next day along w/the trim that wasn't painted.
The new owner now wants me to repaint the entire house professionally since there are a few messups that could be touched up. I plan on doing the finish work myself w/my family. They really want a new paint job. I've already payed for the paint for the first paint job and they say its poor quality which is not what the paint guy selling it to me said. I also think they dont like the color that THEY picked out.
The new owners are threatining me w/a lawsuit. All I want is to be able to complete the job and be done.
Do they have the legal ability to screw up my credit w/a lawsuit?
ty
Answers:
Take a look at the contract first. The best that they can ask for is for specific performance since you weren't able to finish the job in the first place. That would only require you to finish the job NOT REDO the entire thing. If there were no specifications in the contract as to color then they will have to be satisfied with the color they picked. If no specs on quality, then the standard would be the regular standard of quality one can expect from a paint job.
Yes, get yourself a lawyer so you can better negotiate with these people. Looks like they're trying to milk you for more that what you offered into the deal.
Other answers:
IF you had a written contract to professionally paint the house and you chose the cheap route, then they can come after you.
If there was an oral agreement that the House would be painted... No specific color or anything, then they have no leg to stand on. Actually, you have a pending lawsuit it they persue the harrasment.
It all depends on how the agreement was made. If it was in writing, then read the contract. If it has stipulations, make sure that those stipulations are met. If not, then tell him to take a hike because that was not the agreement, but you can have it professionally done at a cost if they so chose.
If all else fails, get a lawyer and have some letters sent.
IF you had a written contract to professionally paint the house and you chose the cheap route, then they can come after you.
If there was an oral agreement that the House would be painted... No specific color or anything, then they have no leg to stand on. Actually, you have a pending lawsuit it they persue the harrasment.
It all depends on how the agreement was made. If it was in writing, then read the contract. If it has stipulations, make sure that those stipulations are met. If not, then tell him to take a hike because that was not the agreement, but you can have it professionally done at a cost if they so chose.
If all else fails, get a lawyer and have some letters sent.
attorney's give free counciltations, look into that. I dont think they can screw you credit up over this but I would call and get some legal advice.
What a mess! Sounds like you sold to a bunch of pricks. I'd say that any lawsuit they might have would be frivolous. Only one thing might get you and that is "Quality work can be relative." But do yourself a favor and hire a painter. Get them out of your hair.
PS You might repost this question in the legal category
In any case it appears your friend was not a licensed contractor...or had warrants..With Pros you have some insurance, they should leave you with a clean paint job.