Litigation Lawyers in Columbia

Commercial Litigation in Columbia, Missouri is civil litigation that arises out of a business transaction, or some other conflict between two businesses, or between a business and a customer. It can appear out of nowhere, and arise out of almost any business matter.

In Columbia, Missouri, you should expect any form of commercial litigation to be expensive and confusing. While large and sophisticated companies are well-equipped to deal with civil litigation, and are often the ones facing it, civil litigation in Columbia, Missouri 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 Columbia, Missouri

Commercial Leases: Even though more businesses than ever are relying on the internet to sell their goods, the majority of small businesses in Columbia, Missouri still have to operate from a physical location. The space from which most businesses operate is typically 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 instance, the tenant fails to pay rent on time, or the landlord fails to perform required building maintenance, a conflict might arise, leading to commercial litigation.

Sales of Real Estate: When buying real estate in Columbia, Missouri, a lot of things can go wrong, possibly making commercial litigation necessary. In these cases, things like title defects (when the seller doesn't directly 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 prevalent source of commercial litigation in Columbia, Missouri. 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: When someone starts a small business in Columbia, Missouri, they typically don't have the money to fund its start-up and first few years of operation. So, the first 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 conflict.

Breach of Contract: Whenever a business in Columbia, Missouri agrees to provide a product or service in exchange for something of value (typically money), a legally-binding agreement, called a "contract," is formed. 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 conflict.

How Can a Columbia, Missouri Commercial Litigation Lawyer Help?

In Columbia, Missouri, typically business owners know that commercial litigation can be caused by almost any business mishap, and the prospect of litigation can rear its head with almost no warning. They also know that it's a smart idea to be prepared for this possibility, to ensure that the interruptions to their business operations that it will cause, as well as its costs, are kept to a minimum.

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