With extensive experience representing and advising construction and professional design industries, The Van Winkle Law Firm has continued as a trusted resource for these clients. The firm’s attorneys routinely explore practical and efficient solutions, always keeping a careful eye on the big picture. Van Winkle attorneys are routinely sought by professional organizations for presentations and papers on various topics for state and national organizations in the industry.
Start-ups will find in the firm a partner to assist with company set-up and organization; new and established business appreciate assistance with contract negotiation and development, dispute resolution and pre-claims assistance during construction; fee collection and lien actions; administrative claims; and defense before licensing boards. Van Winkle’s litigation experience includes payment claims; subcontractor, environmental and regulatory claims; construction defects; accidents and injuries; and mold.
Clients Include:
- Architects
- Engineers
- Surveyors
- Property owners
- Commercial building contractors
- Commercial plumbing companies
- Electrical and HVAC contractors
- Paving and heavy-construction contractors
Representative Work
•
Represented highway contractor in $10 million lawsuit against North
Carolina Department of Transportation, recovering $5.2 million.
•
Represented defendant contractor and surety in $4.5 million contract
litigation initiated by subcontractor of a highway project. Case
successfully resolved for small payment beyond retainage.
• Defended engineering firm against contractor’s claim for professional
negligence and in excess of $900K in damages, obtaining directed
verdict on behalf of engineer. Verdict was upheld in court of appeals.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of project engineer in sinkhole
and property damage case against owner’s claims of $800K+.
• Represented homeowner in mold and construction-defect lawsuit against
bankrupt contractor and developers, obtaining creative resolution where
homeowner sold the house through litigation. Result was net recovery to
homeowner in excess of $850K.
• Represented a primary defendant in $28 million litigation arising out
of the construction of a hotel. Successfully negotiated settlement of
under $1 million via multi-week mediation.
Memberships
- Association of General Contractors
- Construction Section of North Carolina Bar Association
- Construction Section of American Bar Association
- Construction Professional Network
