When it comes to baseball, there are few places more dedicated than Denville, New Jersey. Major league players originate from nearby towns like Parsippany, as well as Denville, and fields with names like Petrilak Park, Wildflowers Field, and Hillside Park are breeding grounds for future stars. But the genesis of the Denville Baseball League is not about the famous players that come from it, but rather the community involvement. During the past 50 years – from its founding in 1967 as the New Jersey Youth League to today’s 160 kids and five teams – it has been sustained by the volunteer work of Denville residents. Games are played during the summer on the fields of Denville and nearby Rockaway Township. It was during one of the training sessions, when Denville kids were gearing up for the fall season, when the president of the Denville Baseball League received an email from a contractor that sparked a dispute. The situation clearly required guidance and expertise from a lawyer to sue a contractor, but little did any of the parties know that it would go on to have ramifications for the youth baseball league for years to come. In this article, we are going to discuss the dilemma and give some background as to how it tied into the article How to Select the Best Lawyer to Sue a Contractor. The feud originated in an unfinished job that required a lawyer to sue the contractor.

After a hailstorm in May of 2016, the Denville Township Council approved the replacement of the roofs on the baseball and soccer fields at Petrilak Park and Indian Lake Park. The bids from contractors were sought, and the Denville Baseball League congratulated the Township on its decision to move forward with the long-awaited project. But they had no idea what the coming year held for them. The Township hired CEA Contracting Corporation, also known as Central Floor Covering, to complete the work. According to Township Council meeting minutes, the contractor was supposed to install a new metal roof at both Denville parks, replacing the former cedar roofs. On July 8, 2016, the Township sent an overage of $5,387.87 to cover unexpected costs. In February of 2017, the Township forwarded paperwork to the Baseball League noting that a contractor lawsuit had been filed against it. The contractor alleged that it was owed an additional $19,000 for “extras.” When it did not receive payment from the Township, it began pursuing legal action. This summer, the Township Council approved soliciting bids for the replacement of the roofs at both parks. According to meeting minutes from April 25, 2018, CEA Contracting Corporation was the sole bidder on the project for $30,079.07. After the Council presented the bid to the Denville Baseball League, which felt as if they had been kept in the dark, they requested that CEA provide documentation for the payment. The contractor informed the League that due to the pending litigation, the Township had ordered that all further correspondence be directed through its attorney to the Township Attorney. That left the contractor hanging, unsure where to get paid from. The problem is that CEA is in a situation where it was ordered by the Township not to have any further communications with the Baseball League. This puts them in a position where they are unable to distribute statement of account and other records. That led to ongoing tensions, eventually leading to a public meeting that became heated as both parties, the Denville Township and CEA, were clearly angry with one another.

The Denville Township is clearly in a precarious position. They have a legal duty to pursue the best interests of their residents, which is to pursue a lawsuit against the contractor to recover the overhead fees. Finding the best lawyer to sue a contractor is not solely to win in court; it is also for peace of mind. The principles of sportsmanship are fair play, honesty, respect for opponents, self-control, good manners, and graciousness in winning and losing – they should go for both players on the field and lawyers who are fighting to win a case. It is crucial to remember that the key to winning and losing is that it is a temporary result, whereas it is who you are as a person that remains permanent. What does all of this mean? It means that it is important to keep in mind that the process of suing a contractor can mean different things to different people. For some, it is important to make sure that legal action is taken against the general contractor, while others would prefer to take a more local approach to the situation. In this case, a local approach may actually be more beneficial, as it means the concern is that the work needs to be done on the field regardless. If the contractor is standing in the way of that, it is the responsibility of the League and the Township to make sure the court proceedings do not have a negative impact on the baseball teams. The final decision will need to be made with the children in mind. It is important, as with any legal matter, to establish goals upfront. While only time will tell how this case eventually turns out in court, it is clear that the best lawyers to sue contractors need to remain focused on their role. Without the right approach, even a small contractors lawsuit can turn into a nightmare.

For more information on legal processes related to contractors, you can visit Wikipedia on Contract Law.

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