DC STATEDistrict of Columbia Court of Appeals
1996

Urban Masonry Corp. v. N&N Contractors, Inc.

676 A.2d 26District of Columbia Court of Appeals • Decided 1996Remanded

HOLDING

N&N Contractors installed 68 extra precast concrete panels beyond their original contract with Urban Masonry. Urban's project manager acknowledged the extra work and promised additional payment, but later refused to pay. The court ruled that N&N was entitled to full compensation for the extra panels, plus attorneys' fees and interest. The case was remanded only to recalculate the attorneys' fees amount. This decision protects subcontractors who perform extra work with the general contractor's knowledge and verbal approval.

KEY FINDINGS

Pay-If-Paid

Document all extra work in writing immediately—get the GC's acknowledgment in email or change order form, not just verbal promises

Lien Rights

You can recover payment for work beyond the original contract scope if the GC authorized it, even without a formal change order

Change Order

Keep detailed records of what was actually installed versus what the contract required—this evidence won the case for N&N

FULL COURT OPINION