Southern California Breach of Contract Lawyer
You enter into contracts with business partners, suppliers, contractors, and employees in order to make sure that everyone sticks to their word. A well-drafted contract can limit conflicts down the line, but frequently counterparties simply fail to live up to their side of the bargain. Sometimes, contract partners will manufacture breaches anticipatorily in order to get out from their own obligations. If you are dealing with a party that has breached their side of the contract, or if a party alleges that you breached your contractual duties, you need seasoned business law counsel to ensure that your finances and reputation remain solid.
The contract dispute attorneys at Rounds & Sutter are prepared to bring our years of business law and litigation experience to bear in helping you resolve your breach of contract matter. Whether you are working to enforce the terms of a contract or responding to unfounded allegations of breach, we’re ready to hear from you. We’ll investigate the nature of your agreement, the alleged breach, and craft a strategy for a resolution that best suits your situation. Not every conflict needs to result in the termination of a business partnership; if there’s an amicable means to solve your dispute, we’ll find it. If we do need to go to court to protect your interests, our experienced trial lawyers fight for you every step of the way.
Grounds for a Breach of Contract Claim
The first step in pursuing a breach of contract case is establishing the base elements of the claim. To pursue a breach of contract claim, you’ll need to show the following:
- There was a contract
- The contract was broken
- You were financially harmed as a result of the breach
- The defendant was at fault for the breach and your harm
Depending upon the nature of your case, the deciding factor may be any of the elements listed above. In cases involving oral or implied contracts, proving that a contract existed can be a challenge. If there was a contract, the case may turn on whether the defendant’s conduct constituted a breach. Even if there was a breach, if the breach was immaterial and you suffered no harm as a result, you might not have much of a legal claim.
Our commercial dispute attorneys are ready to review the underlying agreement in your matter as well as the conduct of all parties to determine whether there was a breach of contract and, if so, how much financial harm you can tie to the breach.
Remedies for Breach of Contract
If you are able to establish a breach of contract, you could have one or more remedies available to you. The typical remedies include:
- Monetary damages. Money damages typically cover compensation for the harm actually caused by the breach, including costs incurred in partial performance and additional costs of replacing the services or goods the defendant failed to provide.
- The defendant may be ordered to return any ill-gotten gains, be it money, property, or other assets.
- Equitable remedies. Equitable remedies are non-monetary remedies such as an injunction against certain behaviors (for example, stealing a deal and working with a competitor) or specific performance (forcing the defendant to follow through on their contractual obligations).
Talk to an experienced California breach of contract lawyer to discuss your claims and the remedies you might be able to pursue.
Resolve Your Breach of Contract Matter With Help From a Southern California Commercial Dispute Lawyer
At Rounds & Sutter, we offer individualized, tailored service to California business owners facing breach of contract disputes and other legal conflicts. We’ll help you review your options and take the steps necessary to protect your interests, your finances, and your business network. Whether you are dealing with supplier or contractor disputes, business partner conflicts, employment law concerns, or general liability, Rounds & Sutter is ready to help. We’ll take your matter through arbitration, mediation, or the courts where necessary. We’ll work to secure the optimal resolution for you in a thorough and efficient manner. We’ll provide considered advice and zealous representation every step of the way. Contact our Southern California breach of contract legal offices in Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Clemente or Westlake Village for a free consultation.