I recently hired a contractor to do some work in my home, and it turned out he removed asbestos tiles without notifying me. Now, there's contamination throughout the house, and I'm facing a total loss of around $100,000. To make things worse, the contractor isn't even licensed. I'm considering taking legal action against him but wondering if it's worth my time and money. I've heard that lawyers often take a huge cut of settlement money, and I'm worried about retaliatory actions from someone who has the means to damage my home further. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Was it worth it to sue?
3 Answers
Pursuing $100K from an unlicensed contractor sounds tricky. Even if you're able to prove your case, collecting might be a nightmare since he likely doesn't have a lot of assets to go after. Have you looked into having your insurance handle this instead? They might know how to navigate this kind of mess better.
Before you make any big moves, have you confirmed that the tiles were actually asbestos? Also, hiring an unlicensed contractor complicates things—you might be seen as partially liable since you didn’t warn him about potential hazards. This can get messy.
I didn't realize until after he removed them. That's what makes this so frustrating.
I had a bad experience with a contractor too. Took him to court for a smaller amount just to get my money back. It took some time and energy, but it felt good to hold him accountable. Based on your situation, it might be more about the principle of not letting him get away with it instead of the actual money. Still, consider if it’s worth the effort for you.
Yeah, it’s not just about the cash, but the principle too. That said, I don't need more stress right now.
Yeah, that's what I've been leaning towards. I just hope they can help me out without too much hassle.