Litigation Lawyers in Columbiana

In Columbiana, Alabama, commercial litigation is any civil litigation that includes a business transaction. Commercial litigation can come up in virtually any business context.

In Columbiana, Alabama commercial litigation can be very intricate and costly. While it normally involves two business in a legal dispute with one another, it might also arise between ordinary individuals who were engaged in an informal business transaction (such as someone selling a car to her neighbor), and never would have guessed that they might be thrown into a commercial litigation case in Columbiana, Alabama.

Common Sources of Commercial Litigation in Columbiana, Alabama

Commercial Leases: Most businesses in Columbiana, Alabama operate from a single physical location, despite the rise of the Internet and e-commerce. These locations are often in rented space, which is typically more cost-effective than purchasing real estate just for the purpose of operating a business. These rental arrangements are laid out in documents called "commercial leases." Like every other contract, these leases are sometimes broken. If the parties cannot resolve the ensuing dispute amongst themselves, they might have to resort to commercial litigation.

Sales of Real Estate: Whether you're buying a house, an office building, or a vacant lot in Columbiana, Alabama, there are plenty of things that can go awry in the process. For example, the seller might fail to disclose an easement on the property, or a physical defect, which you only discover after the sale is final. Or, if you're the seller, the buyer might fail to pay on time. Such mishaps are almost certain to cause a dispute, and if the parties cannot resolve it amongst themselves, commercial litigation might be the only option.

Sale of Goods: The sale or purchase of personal property is another prevalent source of commercial litigation in Columbiana, Alabama. For example, a restaurant owner might order tomatoes from a supplier, and fail to pay for them. The owner might argue that the tomatoes were rotten and unusable when they arrived, and he therefore does not have to pay. Obviously, if the two parties can't resolve this conflict somehow, they will have 2 options: simply let it go, and likely never do business with one another again, or go to court, and resolve it through civil litigation.

Business Loans: Starting a business in Columbiana, Alabama, or anywhere else, is expensive. Typically, when somebody starts a business, they have to take out a loan from a bank. However, if the lender engages in some type of improper activity (such as trying to collect payment in a manner not permitted in the loan agreement), or the borrower doesn't make the payments on time, commercial litigation is likely to result.

Breach of Contract: When a business or individual in Columbiana, Alabama promises another entity to provide a product or service in exchange for something of value (almost always, but not necessarily, money), they have entered a legally-binding agreement called a "contract." Both parties are now required to perform their obligations, as laid out in the agreement, and if one party fails to do so, the other can use commercial litigation to seek redress for any losses suffered as a result of this breach.

How Can a Columbiana, Alabama Commercial Litigation Lawyer Help?

Business owners in Columbiana, Alabama are probably aware of the fact that commercial litigation can always be just around the corner, and just about any business deal that goes bad can trigger it. It's advisable, therefore, to take some simple steps to prepare for possibly civil litigation, so it will only be minimally disruptive to your business, should it happen in the future.

On that front, the single best thing you can do is, by far, to seek the advice of an efficient Columbiana, Alabama commercial litigation attorney. Your lawyer can advise you on practical steps you can take to minimize the chances of business litigation occurring in the first place, and give you the best possible chance of winning if commercial litigation is unavoidable.