Litigation Lawyers in Santa Maria

In Santa Maria, California, commercial litigation is any civil litigation that involves a business transaction. Commercial litigation can come up in practically any business context.

Commercial litigation in Santa Maria, California, can get very expensive, very quickly. Furthermore, it can also be incredibly perplexing. It often involves two sophisticated business entities, but it can also arise between two ordinary individuals who never would have imagined that they'd get caught up in commercial litigation in Santa Maria, California.

Common Sources of Commercial Litigation in Santa Maria, California

Commercial Leases: Even though more businesses than ever are relying on the internet to sell their goods, the majority of small businesses in Santa Maria, California still have to operate from a physical location. The space from which most businesses operate is usually rented, and the terms of the rental agreement are documented in a contract called a commercial lease. These contracts, like any other, are sometimes breached. When, for example, the tenant fails to pay rent on time, or the landlord fails to perform required building maintenance, a dispute might arise, leading to commercial litigation.

Sales of Real Estate: When buying real estate in Santa Maria, California, a lot of things can go wrong, possibly making commercial litigation imperative. In these cases, things like title defects (when the seller doesn't actually own the land or house that they're selling), physical defects in the property that weren't disclosed to the buyer, or a buyer's failure to tender payment on time, among other things, can all lead to commercial litigation.

Sale of Goods: The sale or purchase of personal property is another common source of commercial litigation in Santa Maria, California. For instance, 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 dispute 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: When a business is started up in Santa Maria, California, one of the initial steps is usually to take out a loan from a bank. However, this is a perplexing process, and there are many things that can go wrong. If the borrower fails to make the required payments, or the lender attempts to defraud the buyer, civil litigation is a strong possibility.

Breach of Contract: Whenever a business in Santa Maria, California agrees to provide a product or service in exchange for something of value (usually money), a legally-binding agreement, called a "contract," is created. If either party fails to perform their end of the bargain, they have breached the contract, and commercial litigation is a possible way to settle the dispute.

How Can a Santa Maria, California Commercial Litigation Lawyer Help?

If you are operating a business in Santa Maria, California, it's likely pretty clear that commercial litigation can arise from almost any business deal, and that a dispute leading to litigation rarely comes at a convenient moment. So, it's critical to be prepared for any reasonably likely commercial litigation scenario.

The best thing you can do on that front is retaining a qualified Santa Maria, California commercial litigation attorney. Your attorney can provide you with assistance and information that, if followed, will help you avoid litigation in the first place. And, if litigation becomes unavoidable, a reputable lawyer can give you the best possible chance of obtaining a favorable result in court.