Trusted construction litigation lawyers serving clients across Costa Mesa for over 25 years.

If a construction project in Costa Mesa has turned into a dispute over money, defects, or delays, the decisions you make early can shape everything that follows. Our Costa Mesa, CA construction litigation lawyer has defended contractors, developers, and owners through 26 years of demanding construction and business disputes. At Ghassemian Law Group, we built our practice around the cases that put a company’s contracts, license, or balance sheet at risk. We offer a free consultation to talk through your situation.

Construction Litigation Lawyer in Costa Mesa, CA

Construction litigation is the legal process of resolving disputes that come out of building projects. It covers disagreements over contracts, payment, workmanship, scheduling, and responsibility when something on a job goes wrong. These cases can pull in owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, design professionals, and sureties, sometimes all at once.

Most construction disputes start small. A change order goes unpaid, a deadline slips, or a defect surfaces months after the work is finished. When negotiation stalls, litigation becomes the tool for protecting your money and your standing. A construction litigation attorney in Costa Mesa investigates the facts, reads the contract closely, and builds the strongest position available before a judge or an arbitrator.

Types of Construction Litigation Cases We Handle in Costa Mesa

We handle the full range of construction disputes, from a single unpaid invoice to a multi-party defect case. Our clients are usually businesses with real exposure. Contractors, developers, and owners who stand to lose money, time, or a license. These are the matters we see most often.

• Construction defect claims. Defects in workmanship, design, or materials can trigger claims from owners and pull in multiple trades. We defend contractors and design professionals against these claims and work to shift liability to the parties actually responsible. Many defect cases turn into a fight between competing engineers over the standard of care.
• Breach of contract disputes. When one side fails to perform, the written agreement usually controls the outcome. We pursue and defend these claims, and we handle disputes that arise from a verbal contract when no signed document exists.
• Mechanic’s liens and payment claims. Unpaid work threatens a contractor’s cash flow and survival. We help contractors enforce a mechanic’s lien and pursue retention, and we defend owners against liens that overstate what is owed.
• Delay and disruption claims. A stalled schedule creates ripple costs for everyone on the project. We handle delayed construction projects, sorting out who caused the delay and what damages flow from it.
• Bid protests. Public bidding rules are technical, and a single error can cost a company a contract. We assist with bid protests, whether you are defending a winning bid or challenging an award.
• Public works disputes. Government projects carry their own contracting and compliance rules. We represent contractors in disputes over public works contracts, including delay claims and payment fights with awarding agencies.
• Commercial litigation. Construction disputes often spill into broader business conflicts over contracts, fraud, and unfair competition. We carry those matters through trial in state and federal court.
• Surety and bond disputes. Bonds protect projects, but they also expose contractors to personal risk. We defend contractors against bond companies and have protected clients’ personal assets when a surety came after them. Acting early in these disputes often makes the difference in how much is on the line.

Why Choose Ghassemian Law Group as my Construction Litigation Lawyer in Costa Mesa, CA?

Decades of Construction and Business Litigation

Mahyar Ghassemian built her career as a business and construction litigator with established Southern California firms before opening her own practice in 2010, which became Ghassemian Law Group in 2013. She earned her law degree Cum Laude from Western State University College of Law and holds a master’s degree in physics. When a jobsite dispute grows into a fight over partnerships or fraud, our work moves into business litigation lawyer in Costa Mesa, CA without handing your file to another firm. Ms. Ghassemian also volunteers with the Orange County Bar Association and NAWBO.

Results That Protected Our Clients

Our record reflects the stakes our clients face. We saved a general contractor’s $3 million annual contract in a public works fight over delay and defective work. We recovered $800,000 for work a general contractor performed. We preserved a contractor’s license and company in a regulatory dispute, and we shielded a contractor’s personal assets from a bond company. Every construction litigation case starts with a free consultation.

Understanding Construction Litigation Cases

Claims, Liability, and Damages in Construction Disputes

Construction cases tend to come down to a few core questions. What was promised, what went wrong, and who pays for it. The legal framework can feel abstract, so it helps to know the concepts that show up again and again. Often several of them apply to the same project at the same time.

• Breach of contract: one party fails to perform under the terms of the agreement.
• Construction defects: workmanship, design, or materials that fall short of accepted standards.
• Delay and disruption: added cost and lost time caused by a schedule that breaks down.
• Payment claims: unpaid invoices, withheld retention, and the lien rights that secure them.
• Damages: the money meant to put the harmed party back where it should have been.
• Liability: which party, or combination of parties, carries legal responsibility for the harm.

In practice, a defect claim can carry both contract and negligence theories, and the damages climb once repair costs and delay costs stack on top of each other. Figuring out which party owns which share of the problem is much of the work in any construction dispute.

Important Aspects of a Construction Litigation Case

The strength of a case usually rests on a handful of factors that surface in the first review. These elements tend to shape our strategy from the start.

• The contract language, including scope, change order terms, and dispute provisions.
• The paper trail of change orders, requests for information, daily logs, and invoices.
• The licensing status of every contractor involved.
• Filing deadlines. California allows four years to sue on a written contract and two years on an oral one under the Code of Civil Procedure, and other construction claims carry their own limits.
• The parties involved, along with their insurance coverage and bonds in play.

Construction Litigation Case Timeline

No two construction disputes move at the same pace, but most follow a recognizable path. A case can run a year or longer.

• A demand and an attempt to settle before any lawsuit is filed.
• The complaint, followed by the other side’s answer or cross-complaint.
• Discovery, where both sides exchange documents and take testimony.
• Mediation or arbitration, which resolves many construction cases short of trial.
• Trial, if the parties cannot reach a resolution.

How long a case runs depends on how many parties are involved and whether the contract requires arbitration. A dispute with several subcontractors and insurers usually takes longer than a simple disagreement between two parties.

What To Bring to Your Construction Litigation Consultation

Bringing the right materials lets us assess your position quickly and honestly. Gather what you can before we meet.

• The contract, along with any change orders and addenda.
• Invoices, payment records, and notes on what remains unpaid.
• Photos, inspection reports, and any consultant findings.
• Correspondence with the other parties, including emails and texts.
• Any notices, liens, or legal papers you have received.

The consultation is free. We review your documents, explain the options in front of you, and lay out the likely next steps so you can decide how to proceed. There is no obligation to move forward after that meeting. Our aim is to give you a straight read on your position and what protecting it would involve.

California Legal Resources for Construction Litigation Cases

California offers public resources that help contractors, owners, and businesses understand their rights before and during a dispute. They will not replace advice on your specific situation, but they are a solid place to begin learning how the process works and what agencies are involved.

• Contractors State License Board: Explains license status, complaints, and its arbitration programs.
• California Courts Self-Help: Guide walks through how a civil lawsuit works, from filing to response.
• Orange County Superior Court: Provides local filing information and self-help services for cases heard in the county.
• Public Works Requirements: Covers prevailing wage and registration rules for government projects.

Reach Out to Ghassemian Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

If you are dealing with a construction dispute in Costa Mesa, the sooner we review your contract and records, the more options you usually have. Ghassemian Law Group offers a free consultation to discuss your case and explain where you stand. Contact us to set up a time that works for your schedule.