[LatteLazy]

You'd spend 20k in legal fees to gets a 5k refund after 3 years of litigation.

[Klinky]

Is this really true? It doesn't seem like they consulted a lawyer. Consulting your contractor on what to do seems like a conflict of interest.

[blaser-waffle]

According to my neighbor, who is a lawyer and likes to drink, this is pretty common. He is on a lot of cases where the lawsuit makes him (the lawyer) more money than either party would have saved or lost had they just settled up front.

The one I remember had to do w/ $1900 worth of lost wedding photos cuz a server died or got deleted. Cost more to twist the knife in court than to just settle.

[poulsbohemian]

Probably depends on your local jurisdiction... I am not a lawyer but my own experiences tell me that any kind of civil case below about $50K, the courts would really you rather not bother them with this, and you are going to spend at least 20% of that and several years before you may or may not see a dime.

[xwdv]

It's about principles, not money.

[LatteLazy]

Says the man who can afford to spend 3 years in court losing 15k :)

[stephencanon]

Anyone who takes on building a custom house can easily afford to spend 3 years in court losing 15k.

[vkou]

I'd probably be willing to lose 15k to not spend 3 years in court.

Doubly so if it came after all the stress of custom-building a home. My blood pressure is worth more than that.

[raverbashing]

"Easily"

Oh and the 15k are only for legal costs. Don't forget rent for 3 years on top of that. And all the money that you'll still have to pay for the construction. And stress (medical bills are not cheap).

[ashtonkem]

Usually they could before they built the house, but the phrase “house poor” exists in common parlance for a reason.