Business Attorneys Backing Your Company in Alabama

Running your own business can be a tough gig, and it can be tricky to succeed even when the team is working in perfect harmony. In some cases, however, relationships fray, disputes arise, and you may find yourself locked in a disagreement with another key member of your business team.

In some cases, your trouble may come from outside the business, in the form of copyright infringement, breach of contract, fraud, or unfair competition. No matter the issue, getting the right legal advice is absolutely crucial in these situations and will help you to move forward with confidence and clarity.

What is a Business Dispute?

Any argument, disagreement, or issue can technically be classified as a business dispute, but this is a broad category encompassing a number of infractions. Common example of disputes can include:

• Breach of Contract: this is a common cause of dispute, both between and within businesses. In short, a breach of contract refers to a failure to fulfill the terms laid out in a contract, as they were agreed upon by two or more parties involved. A breach of contract is formally defined as being: “(1) a valid contract binding the parties; (2) the plaintiff’s performance under the contract; (3) the defendant’s non-performance; and (4) resulting damages.”
• Trademark Infringement: trademarks are an essential element of any business and help a company to stand out from the crowd, distinguishing their offerings from the competition. They are designed for exclusive use by the registered business and should not be imitated. Trademark infringement occurs when a trademark is used without authorization or is appropriated for an alternative need. Marking goods and services with the trademark of another business can lead to false beliefs about the quality and origin of a product, the source of the item, or the legal owner.
• Business Fraud: the misrepresentation of a material fact by an individual or business which you relied on to enter a contract, may constitute business fraud and subsequent contract disputes. If your business was financially harmed by the misrepresentation, you may be able to pursue damages.
• Deceptive Trade Practices: these may include passing off the goods of another consumer as the company’s own, deceiving customers and consumers as to the quality of a particular product, exaggerating the provision of goods and services, false associations and relationships, and so on. In short, if the recipient of a product or service is deliberately misled, there may be a case for a deceptive trade practicelawsuit. This can include falsely representing any benefits or characteristics of an item or imbuing them with false certification and authority.
• Contract Interference: competition is a natural element of any business but interfering with a contract goes beyond this. This situation evolves when a business or individual illegally interferes with contractual relations between you and a third party. If this is the case, you may be able to enact a lawsuit based on the principle of tortious interference to recover any financial damages. For this to occur, the breach must be intentional.
• Breach of Fiduciary Responsibility: fiduciary responsibility is the legal obligation of one party to act in the best interests of another party. Common examples may include corporate board members, trustees, administrators, or corporate officers. If there is a breach of their legal obligation (for example, to act in the best interest of company shareholders), they may be found to have violated their fiduciary responsibility.
• Insurance Disputes: insurance policies act as a welcome safety net for businesses in the event that something goes wrong. In some cases, however, an insurance provider may fail to honor their agreement with a business; this can count as a business dispute for the purpose of taking legal action.

What Can I Do?

If you find yourself caught up in a business dispute, there are legal paths you can pursue. If you are successful, your business may be entitled to damages and compensation, which can be used to avenge a damaged reputation, draw up fresh contracts, and handle other issues which have arisen as a result of the dispute.

Here at Pharr & Associates Injury Attorneys, we have been working with businesses across Alabama for a number of years. Our team of experienced attorneys have the skills and expertise you need to make a confident decision, which offers the best solution for your business and can help you to put any disputes firmly in the past. Get in touch today by calling (256) 487-6080 and see how we can help you to move forward.