Litigation Lawyers in Traverse City

Commercial Litigation in Traverse City, Michigan is civil litigation that arises out of a business transaction, or some other disagreement between two businesses, or between a business and a customer. It can appear out of nowhere, and arise out of almost any business issue.

In Traverse City, Michigan, you should expect any form of commercial litigation to be expensive and intricate. While large and sophisticated companies are well-equipped to deal with civil litigation, and are frequently the ones facing it, civil litigation in Traverse City, Michigan can also arise between those who are not nearly as accustomed to handling it, such as individuals and small businesses.

Common Sources of Commercial Litigation in Traverse City, Michigan

Commercial Leases: Despite the rise of the Internet, and e-commerce, most businesses in Traverse City, Michigan still need a physical location to operate. This space is normally rented from another party, under terms laid out in a commercial lease. These leases can lead to disagreements, if one party breaks them, such as by failing to pay rent on time, failure to provide access to the property under the agreed-upon terms, etc.

Sales of Real Estate: Whether you're buying a house, an office building, or a vacant lot in Traverse City, Michigan, there are plenty of things that can go awry in the process. For instance, 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 sure to cause a dispute, and if the parties cannot resolve it amongst themselves, commercial litigation might be the only choice.

Sale of Goods: It's far more frequent for individuals to buy personal property, rather than real estate, in Traverse City, Michigan. And, like any transaction, the sale of goods can lead to civil litigation if one of the parties feels that the other did not perform under the agreed-upon terms. For instance, if a buyer fails to pay the agreed price for the goods, or the seller delivers a late, defective, or incomplete order, there is going to be a disagreement. In some cases, these disagreements lead to commercial litigation.

Business Loans: When someone starts a small business in Traverse City, Michigan, they normally don't have the money to fund its start-up and first few years of operation. So, the initial step is often getting a loan from a bank. However, if the business fails, and the borrower can't make payments, or the lender engages in some type of unlawful conduct, the aggrieved party is going to seek redress. In some cases, the parties will have to resort to civil litigation to resolve their disagreement.

Breach of Contract: Whenever a business in Traverse City, Michigan agrees to provide a product or service in exchange for something of value (normally 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 disagreement.

How Can a Traverse City, Michigan Commercial Litigation Lawyer Help?

If you have a business in Traverse City, Michigan, it should by now be evident that there are several different situations from which commercial litigation can arise, and it rarely happens when it's expected. So, it's always smart to have a plan in place (and money or insurance set aside, if possible) to resolve a commercial litigation issue, should it arise.

And the best thing you can do on that front is to take steps to minimize the chances of disagreements leading to commercial litigation in the first place. Commercial lawyers in Traverse City, Michigan can be very valuable with that. By advising you of your legal rights and obligations, your attorney can help you avoid making the mistakes that lead to legal disagreements in the first place.