Litigation Lawyers in Hannibal

Commercial Litigation in Hannibal, 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 Hannibal, Missouri, you should expect any form of commercial litigation to be expensive and complicated. While large and sophisticated companies are well-equipped to deal with civil litigation, and are frequently the ones facing it, civil litigation in Hannibal, 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 Hannibal, Missouri

Commercial Leases: Even though more businesses than ever are relying on the internet to sell their goods, the majority of small businesses in Hannibal, 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 example, 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: If you're buying a house, office space, or a plot of land in Hannibal, Missouri, you're probably aware of the fact that something can go wrong at any stage of the process. Whether the seller's title is defective (they don't directly have the ownership interest that they claim to be conveying to you), or there's a physical defect on the property that wasn't disclosed, commercial litigation might be the only option to resolve the disagreements that such problems are likely to create.

Sale of Goods: The sale or purchase of personal property is another prevalent source of commercial litigation in Hannibal, Missouri. 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 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 Hannibal, Missouri, or anywhere else, is costly. 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: Whenever a business in Hannibal, Missouri agrees to provide a product or service in exchange for something of value (typically 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 conflict.

How Can a Hannibal, Missouri Commercial Litigation Lawyer Help?

If you are operating a business in Hannibal, Missouri, 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 fitting moment. So, it's necessary to be prepared for any reasonably likely commercial litigation scenario.

On that front, the single best thing you can do is, by far, to seek the advice of an efficient Hannibal, Missouri 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 success if commercial litigation is unavoidable.