David Higley Central Florida Business Dispute & Contract Litigation Attorney Space Coast FL

Call us now at

(407) 389-7833 or use the form below.

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Litigation

Q: What is involved when litigating a business issue?

A: This depends on the issue. The business owner would follow the same process for business litigation as he or she would for any civil lawsuit, including usually obtaining an attorney, pretrial matters such as motions, possible settlement negotiations, trial and possibly appeal.

Q: What are some alternatives to litigation?

A: Businesses often use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods. The ADR process usually utilizes arbitration or mediation. These alternatives are attractive because they are often less expensive and more efficient than traditional litigation.

Business Dispute & Contract Litigation Attorneys

For effective representation in a business dispute, it is important to have an experienced business lawyer. With over 45 years of experience, the law firm of Higley & Szabo, P.A. offers the knowledge and skill to resolve business issues through mediation, arbitration, or litigation. We represent businesses and individuals with corporate law litigation, shareholder derivative actions, director and officer liability litigation, breach of contract disputes, commercial and construction lien litigation and other business litigation.

The following is intended as an overview of business litigation issues but may not apply directly to every situation. For more information, contact our Central Florida business litigation attorneys today. We assist clients throughout the State of Florida.

Business Litigation - An Overview

When considering litigation, a business owner should be aware of his or her options. In addition to the courtroom, there are other forums that might be appropriate, depending on the specific needs of the business. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR), described below, may be a desirable alternative to litigation or, if the cause of action is of an eligible size, small-claims court may be another venue for an owner to consider. Class actions may also be utilized by a business in certain circumstances. Additionally, business owners must understand the basic features of class actions, in the event that they are named as defendants.

Call today to schedule a consultation with an attorney to discuss the legal options that may be available.

Courtroom Procedure

In the event your business becomes involved in litigation, knowledge of courtroom procedure is essential. Courtroom procedure can be complicated, and knowing what to expect can enable a business to prepare effectively. In addition, state and federal law govern procedural issues; depending on the jurisdiction and the specific court involved, there may be notable procedural differences.

Business Litigation - Appeals

An appeal is an official request for a higher court to review a trial court decision based on alleged error of procedure or alleged error in application of the law. In civil cases, including business litigation, this may occur immediately following a decision on a motion or at the end of a trial. The ability to appeal and the timing of an appeal depends on the court rules and laws of the relevant jurisdiction. In the realm of business litigation, the appeals court scrutinizes the lower court decision to determine whether to uphold, reverse or modify it.

Class Actions

Class-action lawsuits are brought by named plaintiffs, usually one or two, whose alleged injuries are the same as those of a large number of other parties. The plaintiffs do not have to be individuals; businesses may also be plaintiffs in class-action lawsuits. The cause of the common injury could be from any number of sources, such as from violations of federal regulations, product defects, securities fraud or environmental issues.

Business Litigation Resource Links

Legal Information Institute (LII)
This site provides general information about the judicial process, courtroom procedures and other legal topics.

National Mediation Board
This government site provides public information on the topic of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), particularly focusing on mediation. Although the site is specific to federal law, it is a good general source of ADR information.

Official United States Government Website
This is a good resource for official federal government information. There are links to the federal and state court systems.

Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA is the federal agency charged with promoting and protecting small business interests in the U.S. Their Web site is a good source for many business-related questions.

7 Ways to Protect Your Business from a Lawsuit
An article about avoiding business lawsuits, from Microsoft Business.

The law firm of Higley & Szabo, P.A., located in Lake Mary, Florida, represents clients throughout Central Florida, the greater Orlando area, and on the Space Coast, including Orange County, Seminole County, Polk County, Osceola County, Lake County, Hillsborough County, Volusia County, and the communities of Altamonte Springs, Daytona Beach, De Land, Fort Myers, Fort Pierce, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Naples, Ocala, Orlando, Sanford, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, Vero Beach, and West Palm Beach.