California law firm litigates on behalf of your business

If you engage in commerce, sooner or later you are almost certain to encounter a dispute with a client or contractor that you’ll need outside help to resolve. Business litigation attorney Lee W. Harwell, Jr. has been assisting businesses for more than 28 years through alternative dispute resolution and civil court trials in state and federal courts.

We are consistently called upon to prosecute or defend commercial litigation matters.  We have a broad range of experience in litigating business disputes, including fraud claims, partnership disputes and breach of contract claims, as well as tort causes of action and real estate claims.   Throughout the litigation process we strive to keep our clients informed of the risks and costs to ensure their needs are met.  Although many cases settle on favorable terms, when cases are not resolved, our experience in trial is extensive.

Recent cases in business and real property litigation include: (1) trial involving a principal’s liability for the debt-creating acts of an agent that the principal claimed were not authorized.  The judgment was for $300,000 in the client’s favor; (2) trial involving alleged liability for unauthorized sale of multiple vehicles (the directed verdict was in favor of the client); (3) trial involving quiet title to real property resulting in a partition of the property and resulting federal case successfully brought against the title company; (4) trial involving an insurance broker’s liability for failure to procure reinsurance for a hospital (under the jury verdict liability was established); (5) litigation involving allegations of building code violations and liability for subsidence; (6) litigation involving claims of wrongful exclusion from a partnership in a textile business (under a discovery dispute the court ordered the excluded partner’s case dismissed, which exonerated the client); (7) litigation involving dissolution of an international manufacturing and domestic distribution partnership and an injunction.  Other recent cases involve accounting disputes over long term mortgage payments, alleged probate fraud involving real estate, commercial and residential lease disputes, alleged fraudulent business sales, water damage and mold claims against adjacent condominium owners and home owners, commercial debt owed by a textile business and the subsequent trial in bankruptcy court establishing fraud to get the bankruptcy case dismissed (the debt was not discharged).

At the Law Offices of Lee W. Harwell, Jr., we have the knowledge and experience to help your business in cases related to:

Recovery from breach of contract

When a party to a contract fails to perform, he damages the other business. This damage often goes beyond the immediate inconvenience of getting less than promised by the contract. The breach can also cost you future profits if you are unable to serve your clients as a result. At the Law Offices of Lee W. Harwell, Jr., we can help you achieve the best legal remedy for a breach of contract, such as:

• Compensatory damages – reimbursement for immediate monetary loss
• Consequential and incidental damages – compensation for additional foreseeable losses caused by the breach
• Attorney fees and costs – amounts available only if the contract expressly states they are recoverable
• Liquidated damages – amounts specified in the contract that are payable for particular breaches, such as late or substandard performance
• Specific performance – court order requiring the breaching party to fulfill the terms of the contract
• Punitive damages – penalty for a party’s objectionable behavior, meant to punish the breaching party and discourage other parties from acting in a similar manner
• Rescission – cancellation of the contract, with both sides excused from further performance and payments made under the contract returned
• Reformation – change in the terms of the contract when the court believes there was an honest misunderstanding by the parties about what was to be performed

Affordable alternatives to a civil suit

The cost of traditional litigation can easily exceed the amount of the contract. Fortunately there are various means of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including mediation and arbitration, that are less costly and quicker than civil lawsuits, but can deliver the same remedies. We have successfully represented clients in arbitration and mediation hearings, and have settled lawsuits prior to trial, saving our clients expenses and getting their businesses back on track.

Contact a dependable Torrance law firm to get your business moving again

If your business has been damaged by someone else’s conduct, you need to take action. Delaying the exercise of your rights could mean losing them.  Recovering damages could make the difference between profitability and insolvency for your company. Contact the Law Offices of Lee W. Harwell, Jr. online or call us at 310-542-9710 for a free 30-minute consultation.