Can I fix hazardous steps if a contractor is refusing to fix, and threatens to sue?
I live in central Texas. I hired a landscape contractor to install retaining walls and a patio which included 4 steps in stone. These steps range in size from 6.5" to 9.5" and the tallest is on the top! They are very dangerous. He refuses to do any fixes, and walked off project. At one point in the final meeting he threatened to sue me for non-payment, but I told him go ahead because the work needed to be redone/fixed and that I had lots of proof. He walked off the job, without receiving his other half of the money and said MERRY CHRISTMAS (I had given him half at the start of project) but he added as he walked off that if I told anyone anything bad about him or his company he would "come after me" which I wasn't sure if that meant physically or if it meant that he would at that point sue me. I need to have the steps repaired but am not sure if I need to leave them this way until the statute of limitations runs out before I do (In case proof is needed). (and how long is statute of limitations in this case?)
These steps are VERY HAZARDOUS and need to be redone, but I don't know what the legal steps are if he intends to sue me or not, or if he just changes his mind someday down the road and sues me, so should I leave it as is just in case.:confused: