TERRIBLE
CONTRACTOR
Threats, Intimidation, or Retaliation
What Is This Claim?
When a homeowner raises legitimate concerns about a contractor's work, requests documentation, or seeks legal recourse, some contractors respond with threats, intimidation, or retaliation rather than addressing the underlying problems. This conduct can take many forms: threatening to file (or actually filing) a fraudulent mechanics lien, making verbal threats of property damage or personal harm, showing up uninhabited at the homeowner's residence, threatening to disparage the homeowner online or to their neighbors, or retaliating against a homeowner who has filed a licensing board complaint. Such conduct may violate criminal statutes as well as civil consumer protection laws and may constitute tortious conduct independent of the underlying construction dispute.
Real-World Example
A homeowner withholds a final payment after discovering multiple defects and files a complaint with the state contractor licensing board. Within days, the contractor sends a threatening text message stating that he will 'make sure everyone knows what a nightmare you are to work with,' shows up uninvited at the homeowner's property, and files a mechanics lien for the full contract price despite never completing the work. The lien clouds the title to the property and prevents the homeowner from refinancing.
Damages & Liability
Homeowners who are subjected to threats and intimidation have civil remedies that are independent of, and in addition to, their construction defect claims. A fraudulent mechanics lien can be challenged through a lien release action, and if the lien was filed in bad faith, the contractor may be liable for the homeowner's legal fees in releasing it and additional damages for slander of title. Verbal threats may support claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Threatening or retaliatory conduct in response to a licensing board complaint may itself constitute a separate violation of the contractor licensing statutes. In egregious cases, criminal charges for menacing, harassment, or extortion may be available.
How to Document Your Situation
Document every incident of threatening, intimidating, or retaliatory conduct as soon as it occurs. Save all threatening texts, emails, and voicemails, do not delete them. Write down the details of any verbal threats immediately, noting the date, time, and any witnesses present. If the contractor appears uninvited at your property, document it with video or photographs if safe to do so and consider filing a police report. Pull the full mechanics lien from the county recorder's office and compare it to the actual contract price and work completed. Report threatening conduct to the contractor's licensing board, as it is independent grounds for license discipline.
Next Steps: Contact Assured Law for a Free Consultation
If you believe a contractor has wronged you, you do not have to face this alone. The attorneys at Assured Law understand how devastating contractor misconduct can be, financially, emotionally, and practically. We represent homeowners and property owners across the region in construction defect and contractor fraud claims.
We offer a FREE, no-obligation consultation to review your situation, explain your rights, and outline your legal options. Our team works on a contingency basis for many contractor claims, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover for you.