When an agreement breaks down, the consequences may include unpaid invoices, an unfinished project, lost access to equipment or disruption to a business relationship. The contract is the starting point, but the surrounding records and the parties’ actual performance also matter.
Harrell & Paulson helps businesses and individuals evaluate contract claims and defenses and pursue an appropriate resolution.
Common issues we evaluate
A dispute may involve a customer or vendor who has not paid, goods or services that were not delivered as promised, disagreement over the scope or quality of work, a disputed deposit or refund, or obligations under a commercial lease.
Other matters involve business relationships and disagreements about responsibilities, use of property or payments between participants. The applicable documents and the legal capacity in which each person acted need to be examined.
Read the entire agreement before taking action
Important terms may appear outside the paragraph describing the work or price. Amendments, purchase orders, incorporated terms, notice provisions, cure periods, warranties, guarantees and dispute-resolution clauses can affect what happens next.
Before withholding performance, terminating an agreement or making a demand, review the relevant requirements. A step intended to protect your position can create exposure if it disregards a contractual obligation.
Identify the claim and document the loss
A missed promise does not automatically establish fraud, and a disappointed business expectation is not automatically a recoverable loss. We evaluate the legal basis for the claim, the available defenses and the evidence connecting the alleged conduct to damages.
Attorney’s fees are recoverable only when an applicable contract or law and the circumstances authorize them. The cost of litigation and the ability to collect should be considered alongside the potential recovery.
Practical options for moving forward
The appropriate next step may be a documented demand, a response to a claim, a negotiated resolution, mediation, arbitration or litigation. Settlement terms should address the issues that caused the dispute, not simply end the immediate exchange of emails.
Prepare for a consultation
Gather the signed agreement, all amendments, proposals, invoices, payment records and complete communications. Create a short timeline identifying what each side was supposed to do and what actually happened.
Call (972) 932-4412 to discuss your matter. Mention any notice, cure or court deadline when you contact the office.