Legal Question in Consumer Law in Maryland

Contrator started work without contract: we were'nt home

A month ago, I talked to a painting contractor about how if they got the job they'd start yesterday, our last day out of the country on vacation. I told him at that time that we'd like to hire them but needed a proposal and everything in writing; plus, we'd need a quote for the required wood repair.

On May 31, he gave us a print-out of a project plan and a sheet of paper titled Proposal with a dollar amount and a signature block. We told him we still needed the wood quote.

We never signed anything, got a summary of work, written guarantee, or wood quote.

The sales guy made several statements that turned out not to be true (20-year-job guarantee--not just paint; they hire employees only, no contractors; we could get 12-month-no-interest financing for the job through his parent company), so we kept looking.

They showed up yesterday & worked on my house for 5 hours. When I learned they were there, I had a neighbor ask them to leave.

They walked on my slate roof and did a bit of collateral damage to the beam on my back porch where the ceiling boards were ripped out.

When they left, they left a board holding up the end of the porch.

What should we do?


Asked on 6/26/07, 6:38 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Alton Drew Alton Drew, LLC

Re: Contrator started work without contract: we were'nt home

Based on what you described, you were still negotiating a contract; no agreement was entered into. Since you gave no permission for them to be on the property and they caused damage to your property, you can sue them for trespass and for damages resulting from the trespass.

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Answered on 6/26/07, 7:13 am


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