In the course of a complex building or retrofit project, Texas electricians at times find themselves having to hire a subcontractor in order to complete all the work that must be done. Every good electrician knows how important their skills and work product are to the proper, safe functioning of a home, high-rise, or commercial building. And they are also aware of just how important it is that the systems they install be carefully inspected for safety.
But even the most careful and conscientious electrical contractor may not be able to catch every defect in the course of an inspection—and when a subcontractor is the one who does the work, the job becomes just that much more difficult. Defects that were not at first evident may present months or even years later—and in the most worrisome of ways. Owners and tenants may find themselves experiencing brownouts, burning odors, flying sparks, and, in the worst of all outcomes, an actual structure fire.
It will come as no surprise that litigation can quickly result from such occurrences—particularly of the latter sort. And, in many cases, the electrical contractor will be the one blamed in the lawsuit, at least initially—not the subcontractor who did the defective work. It will also come as no shock that a complaint will likely be lodged with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the agency that governs the granting and maintenance of electrical licenses in the state.
In either case, it is imperative that you contact an attorney who is skilled at defending your livelihood as soon as possible.
Those who lodge a complaint against an electrician’s license must present information and documentation to undergird their allegations, though they may do so anonymously. The Department will then evaluate whether the allegations rise to the level of being actionable under their jurisdiction if proven true. If it decides in the affirmative, then an investigation will commence. That’s when the electrician is notified of the complaint. A quick response to the complaint is, therefore, imperative, even when the contractor knows they were not directly responsible for the negligent installation—because the Department has already decided the issue is worth pursuing.
We at BERTOLINO LLP have a great deal of experience with this sort of complaint.
Where a subcontractor has not come forward out of their own sense of duty, the contractor must present information regarding the identity of the subcontractor and the work they did. And if the complaint proceeds to a hearing, the contractor must be willing to present that evidence there as well. But this may not be enough. Handled ineptly, this process could result in the loss of license and livelihood.
This is why it is imperative to get a skilled license defense attorney on your side. BERTOLINO LLP handles matters related to licensure, grievance complaints, ethics, and other important professional licensing issues. If you have received a licensing complaint, BERTOLINO LLP can help.
To best serve our clients we have offices in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio.
Contact us today or call (512) 476-5757 and schedule a case evaluation.
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