Contractor, Subcontractor, and Supplier Disputes in Ontario

Are you a business dealing with a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier who has failed to deliver the goods or services you agreed to purchase? Are you facing a dispute over defective or non-conforming products, delayed or incomplete deliveries, unpaid invoices, pricing, quality, performance, or the termination of an ongoing commercial relationship? Or are you a contractor or supplier facing allegations that you failed to perform your obligations or are owed money on unpaid accounts for goods or services already provided? A contractor dispute — or a dispute with a subcontractor or supplier — can disrupt business operations, interfere with important commercial relationships, and result in significant financial losses for the parties involved.

What a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier dispute may involve

Your rights, obligations, and available remedies will depend on the nature of the commercial relationship, the terms of any written or oral agreement, and the goods or services being supplied.

A dispute may involve:

• breach of contract
• interpretation of purchase orders or supply agreements
• payment obligations
• defective or non-conforming goods
• warranties and representations
• delivery requirements
• disputed invoices
• termination rights
• damages arising from non-performance

Key questions in a contractor dispute

Determining what the parties agreed to, whether those obligations were performed, what losses resulted from any breach, and what contractual or common-law remedies are available can be central to deciding how a claim or defence should proceed.

How Zel Law can help

If a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier relationship has broken down, speaking with a commercial litigation lawyer early can help you assess the parties’ obligations, preserve relevant evidence, and determine the most appropriate way to pursue or defend a claim. Zel Law’s litigation lawyer has experience with disputes involving businesses, contractors, and suppliers. Book a consultation to discuss:

• the contract
• purchase orders
• invoices
• correspondence
• payment records
• goods or services supplied
• the legal options that may apply

Related disputes

This is part of Zel Law’s business & commercial litigation practice in Ontario. For how fees work, see our flat-fee options.

• Commercial Contract & Unpaid Invoices
• Commercial Lease Disputes