As someone who has "successfully" sued and "won" a court case against a bad contractor (not a pool builder, however). I can tell you that, even when you win...you lose! We spent almost $20k in legal fees, over two years of time and now, we're trying to collect the $13k in legal fees we were awarded (we were awarded the legal fees we had incurred up until the court trial...the $$ spent afterward, trying to collect the judgement are out of *our* pockets.

Stay OUT of the legal system unless you have NO other alternative. It is NOT a fair and equitable system and is "geared" toward the "defendant".

It's very easy to say "get a lawyer", but, if you have to actually sue, you could spend thousands of dollars and STILL have to pay to have your work completed (which is what happened to us). What we have learned is RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH anyone you hire to do a job for you and cross your fingers and hope for the best.

Best of luck!

Stephanie