Florida Civil Litigation, Construction Disputes, Real Estate Litigation, Contract Claims & Deed Drafting
The Law Offices of Adam G. Hill represents clients in civil litigation matters throughout Florida, with offices serving Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, and surrounding areas. The firm handles construction disputes, real estate litigation, contractor disputes, deed drafting, breach of contract claims, civil defense matters, demand letters, mediation, arbitration, and trial litigation.
If you have a legal dispute involving property, construction work, a contract, a business transaction, a lawsuit, or a demand for payment, the first step is to speak directly with an attorney who can evaluate your options and explain the most practical path forward.
Call the Law Offices of Adam G. Hill at (833) 918-1877 to request a consultation.
General Questions About the Firm
What types of cases does the Law Offices of Adam G. Hill handle?
The Law Offices of Adam G. Hill handles Florida civil litigation matters, including construction disputes, construction defect claims, contractor disputes, real estate litigation, deed drafting, partition of real estate, breach of contract claims, civil defense, demand letters, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and trial litigation.
The firm focuses on practical legal strategy, direct attorney communication, and resolving disputes as efficiently as possible while protecting the client’s legal and financial interests.
Do you handle cases in Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Myers?
Yes. The firm serves clients in Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, and throughout Florida. Many civil litigation, construction, real estate, and contract matters can be handled by phone, email, video conference, and electronic filing, depending on the facts of the case and the court involved.
The firm has office locations serving Hillsborough County, Orange County, Lee County, and surrounding Florida communities.
Will I work directly with an attorney?
Yes. At the Law Offices of Adam G. Hill, clients work directly with an attorney. You are not passed off to a call center or middleman after hiring the firm.
Direct communication matters in civil litigation because strategy, deadlines, evidence, and negotiation decisions can affect the outcome of the case.
How quickly will an attorney respond after I contact the office?
The firm makes prompt communication a priority. In many cases, an attorney will respond the same day or within 24 hours, depending on availability, urgency, and the nature of the legal issue.
If you have been served with a lawsuit, received a demand letter, are facing a lien, or have an approaching deadline, you should contact the office immediately.
Do you offer flat-fee legal services?
Yes, in some matters. The firm may offer flat-fee services for demand letters, deed drafting, document review, legal opinions, and certain limited-scope projects. Certain limited-scope projects can include responding to a lawsuit with an Answer and Affirmative Defenses, Request for Production and Request for Admissions--all for a flat fee much less expensive than a full litigation retainer. This still satisfies your obligation to respond within the 20 day window after being served and puts the Plaintiff on the defensive and forces them to undergo extensive work gathering documents and responding to inquiries. It allows you to know the weaknesses in their case early on. Should you wish to retain us for further work later, such as mediation attendance, we can come to a new agreement for appearance at that time.
Full litigation representation is usually handled through an hourly retainer because the amount of work depends on the opposing party, the court schedule, discovery, hearings, settlement negotiations, and trial preparation.
Construction Law and Contractor Dispute Questions
Do I need a construction dispute attorney?
You should speak with a construction dispute attorney if there is a disagreement involving defective work, unfinished work, nonpayment, construction delays, change orders, warranty issues, liens, licensing issues, or a contractor refusing to correct problems.
Construction disputes often involve contracts, invoices, text messages, photographs, permits, inspections, expert opinions, and Florida construction lien laws. Waiting too long can make the case harder to prove.
What should I do if a contractor did defective work on my property?
Start by gathering the contract, invoices, payment records, photographs, videos, inspection reports, text messages, emails, and any written complaints you sent to the contractor.
Do not rely only on phone calls. Written documentation is critical. A construction defect attorney can evaluate whether the best first step is a demand letter, negotiation, expert inspection, mediation, lien dispute, or lawsuit.
Can you help if a contractor started the job but never finished?
Yes. The firm handles disputes involving contractors who accept payment, begin work, and then fail to complete the project. These cases may involve breach of contract, unjust enrichment, defective work, abandonment, delays, or improper billing.
The correct strategy depends on the written contract, payment history, project status, communications, and whether the contractor recorded or threatened a lien.
Can you help dispute a construction lien in Florida?
Yes. The firm assists property owners with construction lien disputes, including liens that may be exaggerated, unsupported, untimely, improperly served, or based on disputed work.
A Florida construction lien can create serious problems for property owners because it may affect title, refinancing, sale of the property, and litigation risk. You should not ignore a lien or assume it will disappear on its own.
What if a contractor is demanding more money than the contract allows?
A contractor’s right to additional payment depends on the contract terms, change orders, scope of work, written approvals, project records, and Florida law. Some payment demands are valid. Others are inflated, undocumented, or inconsistent with the agreement.
The firm can review the contract and communications, determine the legal position, and prepare a response or demand letter if appropriate.
Can you represent contractors in payment disputes?
Yes. The firm represents contractors and businesses in payment disputes, breach of contract claims, lien-related matters, defective work allegations, and litigation defense.
Contractors should act quickly when payment is withheld, especially when lien deadlines, notice requirements, or litigation deadlines may apply.
Real Estate Litigation Questions
What is real estate litigation?
Real estate litigation involves legal disputes concerning real property. These disputes may involve ownership, contracts, deeds, boundaries, title issues, partitions, leases, purchase agreements, fraud, construction issues, or disputes between co-owners.
The Law Offices of Adam G. Hill handles real estate litigation for property owners, buyers, sellers, investors, landlords, businesses, and individuals throughout Florida.
When should I hire a real estate litigation attorney?
You should consider hiring a real estate litigation attorney when a property dispute involves money, ownership rights, title issues, a failed transaction, a broken agreement, a co-owner dispute, or the threat of a lawsuit.
Real estate disputes can become expensive quickly. Early legal strategy can prevent mistakes, preserve evidence, and improve leverage before litigation escalates.
Can you help with disputes between co-owners of property?
Yes. The firm handles disputes between co-owners of real estate, including partition actions. A partition case may be necessary when two or more people own property together and cannot agree on whether to sell, keep, refinance, rent, or divide the property.
These disputes commonly arise between unmarried partners, relatives, former business partners, heirs, or investors.
What is a partition action in Florida?
A partition action is a lawsuit asking the court to divide or sell jointly owned property when the owners cannot agree. In many cases, the property is sold and the proceeds are divided according to each party’s ownership interest, subject to claims for credits, offsets, contributions, expenses, or other equitable adjustments.
If you are stuck owning property with someone who refuses to cooperate, a partition action may be the legal solution.
Can you help with real estate contract disputes?
Yes. The firm handles disputes involving real estate purchase agreements, failed closings, escrow deposits, inspection issues, seller disclosures (including failure to disclose latent defects), financing issues, title problems, and breach of contract claims.
The best approach depends on the contract language, deadlines, contingencies, notices, and the damages involved.
Deed Drafting Questions
Do I need an attorney to draft a deed in Florida?
You should strongly consider using an attorney for deed drafting in Florida. A deed can affect ownership rights, homestead issues, taxes, inheritance, mortgages, title insurance, and future sale of the property.
A cheap or incorrectly prepared deed can create expensive problems later.
What types of deeds do you prepare?
The firm assists with deed drafting, including quitclaim deeds, warranty deeds, special warranty deeds, corrective deeds, and other deed-related documents depending on the client’s needs.
The correct deed depends on the purpose of the transfer, the relationship between the parties, title status, mortgage concerns, and whether the transfer is part of a sale, estate plan, divorce, settlement, or family transaction.
Can you prepare a quitclaim deed?
Yes. The firm prepares quitclaim deeds when appropriate. A quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest the grantor has in the property, but it does not guarantee clear title.
Before using a quitclaim deed, you should understand what it does, what it does not do, and whether another deed type would better protect your interests.
Can you fix a deed that was prepared incorrectly?
In some cases, yes. The firm can review the existing deed, identify the issue, and determine whether a corrective deed or other legal action may be needed.
Common deed problems include incorrect legal descriptions, missing names, improper execution, recording errors, wrong deed type, or transfers that do not accomplish what the parties intended.
Can you help transfer property to a family member?
Yes. The firm can assist with deed preparation for transfers between family members. However, family transfers should be handled carefully because they may affect ownership rights, estate issues, homestead protections, mortgage obligations, and future disputes. We often recommend a Ladybird Deed to transfer your property directly to your children or heirs and which avoids the hassle and expense of probate. This type of deed also allows you to fully control the property by selling, leasing or other means, as well as to revoke or change the deed at anytime during your life.
Do not sign or record a deed until you understand the legal consequences.
Breach of Contract and Demand Letter Questions
What is a breach of contract?
A breach of contract occurs when one party fails to perform a duty required by an agreement. This may involve failure to pay, failure to perform work, failure to deliver goods or services, violating deadlines, refusing to close a transaction, or failing to comply with written contract terms.
The firm represents clients in Florida breach of contract matters involving individuals, businesses, contractors, property owners, buyers, sellers, and service providers.
What should I do if someone breached a contract?
Gather the contract, invoices, proof of payment, emails, text messages, photographs, delivery records, notices, and any written communications about the dispute.
The next step may be a demand letter, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or lawsuit. The best approach depends on the contract terms, damages, deadlines, and whether attorney’s fees may be recoverable.
What is a demand letter?
A demand letter is a formal written letter that explains the dispute, states the legal and factual basis for the claim, demands payment or action, and gives the opposing party a deadline to respond.
A strong demand letter can sometimes resolve a dispute without filing a lawsuit. It also creates a written record showing that you attempted to resolve the matter before escalating the case. Demand letters and follow up negotiation (included in our demand letter service) can resolve a very large percentage of disputes without the large expense of filing a lawsuit. See: Why Demand Letters Are a Good Idea.
When should I send a demand letter before filing a lawsuit?
A demand letter is often appropriate when the other party has breached a contract, failed to pay, performed defective work, refused to correct a problem, ignored prior requests, or created damages that need to be resolved.
In many cases, a demand letter is the most cost-effective first step before litigation.
Do you offer flat-fee demand letters?
Yes. The firm offers flat-fee demand letter services with included negotiation/follow up work after the demand letter is sent. The service generally includes legal review, preparation of the demand letter, and communication of the client’s position to the opposing party. The follow up work includes negotiation, communication, advice/strategy and possible settlement agreement drafting.
The exact scope and fee depend on the facts, urgency, documents, and complexity of the matter.
Civil Defense and Lawsuit Questions
What should I do if I was served with a lawsuit in Florida?
Do not ignore it. If you were served with a lawsuit, you may have a limited time to respond. Missing the deadline can result in a default judgment, which may allow the other party to obtain relief without your side being heard. We handle many types of civil defense cases, with common cases including car crash defense when you have no bodily injury coverage and are being sued personally and dog bite defense.
Contact an attorney immediately. Bring the summons, complaint, exhibits, service documents, and any related communications.
Can you defend me if someone is suing me?
Yes. The firm handles civil defense matters involving contract claims, property disputes, construction disputes, business disputes, negligence claims, and other civil lawsuits.
A defense strategy may involve filing a response, challenging the allegations, asserting affirmative defenses, negotiating settlement, attending mediation, conducting discovery, filing motions, or preparing for trial.
What is a default judgment?
A default judgment can occur when a defendant fails to respond to a lawsuit within the required time. Once a default is entered, the plaintiff may be able to move forward without normal opposition from the defendant.
If you believe a default has been entered against you, contact an attorney immediately. Delay can make the situation worse.
Can I change attorneys during my case?
Yes. You generally have the right to change attorneys during a case. If you are unhappy with your current representation, the firm can review the case status, deadlines, pleadings, discovery, and upcoming hearings to determine whether substitution is appropriate.
Do not wait until the eve of trial or a major hearing if you are considering changing counsel.
Litigation, Mediation, Arbitration and Trial Questions
Will my case go to court?
Not every case goes to court. Many disputes are resolved through demand letters, negotiation, mediation, or settlement. However, some cases require litigation when the other party refuses to act reasonably, denies responsibility, or forces the dispute into court. We aggressively pursue cases through full litigation and arbitration.
The firm evaluates both settlement options and litigation strategy.
What is mediation?
Mediation is a settlement conference where a neutral mediator helps the parties attempt to resolve the dispute. Mediation is often required in Florida civil cases before trial.
Mediation can be an effective way to resolve a dispute while avoiding the cost, delay, and uncertainty of trial.
What is arbitration?
Arbitration is a private dispute resolution process where an arbitrator hears evidence and makes a decision. Some contracts require arbitration instead of court litigation.
If your contract contains an arbitration clause, the firm can review it and explain how that clause may affect your rights, costs, deadlines, and strategy.
How long does a civil litigation case take?
The timeline depends on the type of case, court schedule, complexity of the facts, number of parties, discovery disputes, expert witnesses, mediation, and whether the case settles.
Some matters resolve in weeks. Others can take months or longer. The firm’s goal is to move the case forward efficiently while protecting the client’s position.
Do your attorneys go to trial?
Yes. Attorney Adam G. Hill has significant trial experience in civil litigation matters, having secured significant monetary judgments including a judgment of over $1,000,000.00. While many cases should be resolved before trial when a fair settlement is available, trial preparation is important because it gives the client leverage and keeps the case ready if settlement fails.
Cost and Consultation Questions
How much does it cost to hire a civil litigation attorney?
The cost depends on the type of matter, urgency, amount in dispute, number of parties, court involvement, and expected workload. Some services may be available for a flat fee. Litigation matters usually require an hourly retainer.
During the consultation process, the firm will discuss the facts of your case and explain the available fee structure.
What information should I provide before a consultation?
You should provide:
- Your name, phone number, and email address
- The county where the dispute is located
- The names of the opposing parties
- A short summary of what happened
- The contract, deed, lawsuit, lien, demand letter, or other key documents
- The amount of money at issue, if any
- Your goal or desired outcome
- Any upcoming court deadlines or response deadlines
The more organized your documents are, the faster an attorney can evaluate the issue.
Can you help if I live outside Florida but have a Florida legal issue?
Yes. The firm can often assist out-of-state clients with Florida legal issues involving real estate, contracts, construction disputes, deed drafting, lawsuits, and property-related matters.
If the dispute involves Florida property, a Florida contract, a Florida court case, or conduct that occurred in Florida, you may need a Florida attorney.
Contact the Law Offices of Adam G. Hill
If you need help with a Florida civil litigation matter, construction dispute, real estate dispute, deed issue, contract claim, demand letter, or lawsuit defense, contact the Law Offices of Adam G. Hill.
Call: (833) 918-1877
The firm serves clients in Tampa, Orlando, Fort Myers, Hillsborough County, Orange County, Lee County, Hendry County and throughout Florida.