Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Utah

verbal contract land surveyor

I called a land surveyor and asked him to divide a piece of land on paper for a tentative lot split so that I had something to show the county counsel. I asked him how much it would be and he said that he charged hourly. This was at four in the afternoon. He called right before five and asked if I could fax or e-mail the plat that I had from the county and I did. At ten the next morning he e-mailed me what he had done. When I received the bill it was for $650 which I thought was ridiculous! I had a survey done that was only a couple of hundred more and this guy never even came to the property (located in a neighboring state). After arguing with him and getting no where I sent him $150 which I thought was fair. He is now suing me for the balance in small claims court. Do I even have a chance by appearing?


Asked on 10/27/08, 2:52 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Alvin Lundgren Alvin R. Lundgren, L.C.

Re: verbal contract land surveyor

If you show up you can explain your side of the story and require him to show that the hourly amount would have been far less than what he actually billed. Get an estimate from another surveyor to do the same work and show the judge that the amount he is requesting is unreasonable.

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Answered on 10/27/08, 6:01 pm


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