San Bernardino Contract Disputes and Litigation Attorneys 

California law firm provides effective legal support

Contract disputes can disrupt business operations and lead to significant financial losses. At Granowitz White & Weber in San Bernadino, our contract attorneys seek to resolve disagreements before they grow and cause negative impacts. Our firm has spent over 40 years providing dedicated and reliable legal services to businesses and individuals throughout the Inland Empire and Southern California. If you have a contractual dispute that is interrupting a business relationship, we stand ready to assist you.

Types of contract disputes we handle

Whether you believe another party has fallen short of performance of contractual duties or whether you have been alleged to be in default, our experienced attorneys can help to resolve the issues. We handle disputes for Inland Empire companies in a variety of industries related to: 

• Business agreements
• Service contracts
• Vendor agreements
• Construction contracts
• Commercial leases

If there is disagreement about the meaning of language or provisions in a contract, we can help find a way to address and correct the ambiguity. Whatever your contractual dispute, we want to help you resolve it in a way that has the least impact on your business. 

What constitutes a breach of contract? 

A breach occurs when a party to a contract has not met their obligations. A breach might be material or immaterial depending on whether the violated provision is integral to the contract’s enforcement. For example, a delay in delivering goods is a minor breach, but the contract can still be completed, albeit with an offset in price. However, failing to deliver goods according to the specifications of the contract may constitute a material breach, allowing the other party to seek damages. Our law firm has extensive experience achieving satisfactory outcomes in all types of breach of contract cases. 

Contract enforcement remedies

Contractual rights can be enforced through a number of legal remedies that may include:

• Compensatory damages for financial losses sustained due to a breach 
• Specific performance, which is an order by the court to fulfill contractual obligations 
• Reformation or rescission (cancelling) of the contract 
• Restitution, which seeks the return of enrichment gained by the breaching party 

Contract enforcement need not always require litigation. Some contracts require parties to employ alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration or litigation. 

Contract litigation process

Going to court is the last recourse in a breach of contract case. The nonbreaching party’s attorney will typically send a pre-litigation demand letter to try and resolve the dispute. The letter will outline the alleged breach and the damages allegedly suffered. If discussions are unsuccessful, the next step is filing a complaint with the court. California has a four-year statute of limitations for filing lawsuits in breach of contract cases. Then follows the discovery phase, in which both sides request evidence and depose witnesses. Often, one side will make a motion for summary judgment, which alleges there are no genuine issues of material fact in the case and asks the court to make a ruling. If summary judgment is not granted or if it is reversed on appeal, the case will be put on a trial track. There may be other pretrial motions and applications. Only in the final instance will a jury be selected and the case set for trial. Usually, negotiations will be ongoing and a settlement may reached before the jury gets the case.

How to avoid or resolve contract disputes

Contract disputes almost always can be resolved before they reach the courtroom. In more than 40 years of practice, our firm has been successful in reaching settlements in contract cases through negotiation, mediation or arbitration. What’s more, many disputes can be avoided with a well-drafted contract that is clear and unambiguous in its terms. Our firm stands ready to prepare and review contracts to ensure that your business and financial interests are protected. 

Call our experienced contract disputes attorneys for assistance

The attorneys at Granowitz White & Weber in San Bernardino provide knowledgeable counsel in contract matters, both before and after disputes arise. Call us at 909-890-1717 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.