Business owners work hard to make their ventures a success, maintain a strong market position, and increase profitability. What they do not always take into consideration, however, is how consequential litigation can be. Regardless of which side of a lawsuit you’re on, its outcome could impact your business long into the future.
If litigation is on the horizon, your business needs exceptional legal counsel. Count on Smith Duggan Cornell & Gollub. Whether you are the plaintiff or defendant in a lawsuit, our Providence business litigation attorney can advise you and seek the best possible results for your case.
Different Types of Business Disputes
Businesses have many complex relationships. They hire employees, work out deals with suppliers and third-party companies, and sell products to consumers. They must always be mindful of the concerns of government regulators as well. The hope is that these relationships will be amicable and mutually beneficial. However, this does not always happen. And when a disagreement becomes a dispute, litigation is usually not far behind.
Our firm represents businesses as both plaintiffs and defendants in the following types of lawsuits:
- Breach of contract: Alleged breaches of contract arise in a number of different settings. A company may be accused of breaching a purchase and sale agreement. An employer may have allegedly breached an employment contract, or an employer may have done so. Other examples involve breaches of insurance policies, commercial leases, and non-compete contracts.
- Business torts: A business tort is a wrongful act that causes financial harm to a company. There are different types of business torts in Providence. Tortious interference is an example, and it involves a third party intentionally interfering with a business relationship. Unfair competition arising from misleading advertising can also be the basis of a lawsuit.
- Fraud: When companies are accused of making false or misleading representations, a fraud lawsuit may follow. There are various types of fraud, such as misrepresenting the quality of a product, conveying false or misleading information to induce a sale or business deal, or intentionally covering up problems or ownership issues with real property.
- Breach of fiduciary duty: Certain professionals have fiduciary duties, which essentially obligates them to put the interests of others ahead of their own. For example, a lawyer must avoid conflicts of interest with clients. Breaching a fiduciary duty injures the party to whom the duty was owed, which can often take the form of financial loss or an impairment of legal rights.
- Partnership disputes: Business partners do not always agree on how best to run the company. One may accuse the other of neglecting their duties or ignoring procedures set forth in the partnership agreement. Still another type of dispute concerns disagreements over how profits should be distributed among the partners.
- Land use disputes: Land use broadly concerns zoning restrictions and regulations. Various entities may be parties to a land use dispute, including the land owner, the buyer, the developer, and the government. Delays and broken promises can trigger lawsuits that potentially cost substantial sums of money. A Providence land use lawyer can guide you through the complexities of this type of litigation.
- Commercial construction: Building, developing, and renovating commercial property can involve major sums of money. Missed deadlines, failure to deliver materials, and labor problems all threaten profits. Lawsuits involving construction often center on breach of contract, payment disputes, project delays, and defects stemming from poor work. If you are dealing with these and other matters, consult a commercial construction lawyer in Providence.
- Product liability: Companies that manufacture and sell products must take reasonable steps to avoid causing foreseeable harm to consumers. Products can be manufactured poorly, designed unsafely, or lack important warnings and instructions that help consumers avoid injury. If your business has been named in a product liability lawsuit, turn to us.
- Government investigations and compliance: The last thing a business wants to deal with is the hassle of a government investigation. The government has the power to stop business operations overnight if there are compliance problems. For example, a company may be accused of violating tax laws, employment laws, and a host of financial and other regulations.
How We Help Business Litigation Clients
Your business may be named as a defendant in a lawsuit involving one of the above or other issues. On the other hand, you may need to file a lawsuit against another business or an individual to protect your rights and interests. Either way, we understand what is at stake in your business litigation.
Smith Duggan Cornell & Gollub represents businesses of all sizes and in all industries. When you retain us, we immediately get to work by:
- Investigating the allegations and facts that are central to the lawsuit
- Understanding the relationships among all relevant parties
- Filing a lawsuit on your behalf, if you are the plaintiff
- Discussing your responses and defenses to the allegations
- Developing a comprehensive litigation strategy to seek an optimal outcome
- Thoroughly reviewing the evidence that is claimed against you
- Obtaining evidence to support your arguments and defenses in the lawsuit
- Filing and serving necessary motions and other court documents
- Using the discovery process to obtain additional evidence through depositions and other means
- Negotiating a settlement, if possible, and representing you during mediation
- Trying your case in court if a settlement cannot be reached
- Consulting expert witnesses as needed to present the most compelling case
- Introducing evidence and witness testimony in court while challenging the adverse party
- Protecting your company’s sensitive and confidential business information throughout the litigation
- Applying our extensive knowledge of Rhode Island business law and civil procedure
Contact Our Providence Business Litigation Attorney
We handle each business litigation matter by helping our clients understand the facts in dispute, exploring various options for resolving the lawsuit, and discussing the likely consequences of different potential outcomes. It’s part of the comprehensive legal counsel that we are proud to provide each of our clients as we work for the results they deserve.
If you’re a defendant or plaintiff in current or pending litigation, find out how we can serve you and your organization. Contact Smith Duggan Cornell & Gollub to start working on your business lawsuit today.
