Jay faced a real dilemma. His company’s best client had just backed out of a contract they had negotiated for work to be done in 2020. The work made up almost 30% of his company’s earnings for the year. The client’s representatives had not returned his calls. Jay and his legal counsel had a big decision ahead of them: whether to file a Florida business lawsuit or find another way to deal with the problem. Lawsuits are difficult but sometimes necessary.
Most Common Business Lawsuits
Every day, business owners encounter situations that could lead to a business lawsuit:
- Breach of contract occurs when one or more parties to a contract fail to fulfill
- Personal injury cases may arise when someone is injured on site or because of a product malfunction.
- Discrimination claims filed by employees or customers.
- Employment law situations like harassment, hiring practices, or employment contracts.
- Misappropriation of a company’s intellectual property.
In Jay’s situation, his company was damaged by his client’s actions. His best option may be to discuss potential financial recovery with his corporate counsel or business attorney.
Timeline of a Lawsuit
When a legal disagreement arises between two or more parties, they may attempt to settle their differences through discussions and negotiation. Mediation is another option to settle disagreements before they land in court.
However, at some point, one party may decide the only way to get what they want is by filing a business lawsuit.
Lawsuits begin when one party files a complaint in federal or state court. The party or parties being sued have time to file a response. The lawsuit may then head into a discovery phase, where each party learns more about the dispute. Plaintiffs and defendants may file motions asking the court for some type of relief. If all else fails, the lawsuit goes to trial.
After trial, either party may request post-trial relief, post-trial discovery, or file an appeal. The winning party will attempt to collect on their judgment at some point.
As you might expect, a Florida business lawsuit may take you away from your primary concerns: family and business. The process can be expensive and time-consuming. Your Florida business lawyer can discuss preventing lawsuits, alternative dispute resolution, and handling lawsuits whether you are the plaintiff or the defendant.
Are There Alternatives to Filing a Florida Business Lawsuit?
Maybe, but every case is different. Discuss the facts of your case with your corporate counsel or business attorney.
Attorney Richard Sierra at the Florida Small Business Center assists clients like you with business and litigation matters. As always, Our Goal Is to Help You Succeed tm. For an appointment, you may call us at 1-866-842-5202 or use the contact form on our website. we represent clients throughout South Florida, including Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Pompano Beach, Sunrise, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding communities.