If I subcontract ceramic and stone installation, how am I bound by state law for workmanship warranty when the job is provided by a flooring store?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

If I subcontract ceramic and stone installation, how am I bound by state law for workmanship warranty when the job is provided by a flooring store?

What if the job is cash with no contract?

Asked on September 1, 2014 under Business Law, Ohio

Answers:

S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 10 years ago | Contributor

You would be liable for the workmanship of the flooring store because the flooring store is your subcontractor and therefore could be construed to be your employee.  An employer is liable for the negligence of an employee which occurs during the course and scope of employment.

Whether or not the flooring store is your employee, you are liable for the workmanship of the flooring store because this is a third party beneficiary contract.  In a third party beneficiary contract, there are three parties, you, the flooring store and the customer.  The customer can sue you , the contractor and/or the flooring store for breach of contract and breach of warranty.

If the flooring store is paid by you in cash and there is no contract, the results would be the same because again the flooring store as your subcontractor was hired by you to do the work and therefore would be your employee.  You would also be liable for the workmanship warranty as there would be an implied third party beneficiary contract for the work to be done for the customer. 

 


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption