How to Resolve a Business Contract Dispute in Florida

Dealing with the fallout of a business contract dispute can be an overwhelming situation, especially if you are trying to handle it on your own without the help of an experienced contract dispute lawyer. You may not know exactly what to do next, especially if you only have a limited knowledge of contract law and business litigation. It’s understandable to need extra help. Knowing how to resolve a business contract dispute in Florida can be critical for resolving your situation.

LMK Legal knows how difficult it can be to work through a contract dispute and emerge relatively unscathed. In some cases, your entire professional reputation may be on the line, along with the future of your business. You want to make sure you handle this correctly and quickly while protecting your interests the entire time. Depending on the case, whether you are trying to refute an unfair agreement or dealing with contractors, you will want legal assistance.

How Can a Contract Dispute Lawyer Help?

It’s important to retain the assistance of a seasoned professional when dealing with something as potentially serious as a contract dispute. If you don’t take care of it accordingly, it could become a much more complex and infuriating situation, especially if it ends up being decided in litigation. As long as your case is within the Florida statute of limitations for contract disputes, you should be able to figure out a valid solution. Here are two ways a lawyer can help:

Collaboration

It’s important to work together for a common goal, especially in legal situations like a contract dispute. Our firm’s approach to disputes is collaborative, as we want to make sure you remain fully notified and able to contribute to the brainstorming process. Getting the most out of your consultation is paramount. We can offer you solid strategies for resolution.

Thorough Assessment

If you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, it can be very difficult to navigate a legally binding contract. Thankfully, with our help, we can look through your contracts and provide you with a thorough assessment of your liability and options. There’s a chance the contract in question may already have built-in clauses and provisions for resolution.

How to Resolve a Business Contract Dispute in Florida

There are multiple ways to resolve a business contract dispute in Florida, and all of them can be effective in their own way. Everyone’s needs in a contract dispute are going to be different, so there’s a possibility some of these options won’t work for you. It’s important to determine your optimum solution and work from there. Here are some possible ways to resolve your contract dispute:

• Negotiation. Sometimes, the most effective way to resolve a contract dispute is for both parties to sit down and rationally discuss their grievances. A direct discussion and subsequent negotiation can resolve many disputes. There’s a strong chance both parties will opt to have their lawyers present, and they may even want to communicate through them. If negotiations don’t work, you may want to move on to mediation.
• Mediation. In mediation, both parties sit down again, only this time with a mediator present. A neutral third-party mediator facilitates the discussion to help both parties reach a mutually beneficial agreement that’s non-binding. If you don’t think the mediator’s helping, you don’t have to abide by their decision.
• Arbitration. Arbitration is very similar to mediation. Both parties sit down again with a neutral third party. This time, the third party is an arbitrator. They will hear each party’s case and then make a decision based on the evidence. This decision is binding; if both parties agree to take part in the process, it cannot be broken.

Contract Disputes in Florida

Contract disputes arise in Florida all the time. Between 2023 and 2024,  the Florida courts reported on how many civil cases were decided through ADR, including contract disputes and other business matters. Nearly 93,000 cases were ordered to attempt ADR, while over 60,000 of those cases saw it through.

Sometimes, it takes significant effort to end a contract dispute. For example, in 2013, a Florida tech company called Infinity Software Development took legal action against the state after the Department of Education failed to pay them on time for a website the company developed for them.

The DOE alleged that the tech company failed to abide by the requirements in the contract, leading to a dispute. The two entities were able to reach a settlement, and the DOE paid the tech company a settlement. It’s important to reflect on cases that could be similar to yours.

FAQs

What Are the Grounds for Rescission of a Contract in Florida?

There are several possible grounds on which a contract can be rescinded in Florida. If you suspect that your contract may be voidable, it’s vital that you take your concerns to a contract dispute lawyer for reassurance. A contract may be rescinded if it’s fraudulent, misrepresented, or signed under duress, among other potential reasons.

What Is the Ideal Way to Resolve Contract Disputes?

The ideal way to resolve contract disputes is through negotiation. When both parties agree to discuss their issues, it is often far cheaper and much less time-consuming than litigation. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is usually the preferred method of resolving problems. If you have a contract dispute, you may want to ask your lawyer about your options.

What Are Three Different Ways to Resolve a Contract Dispute?

There are multiple ways to resolve a contract dispute, but not all of them will work for your particular situation. There’s mediation, in which a neutral third party facilitates the discussion and offers solutions. There’s arbitration, which is similar to mediation, except the arbitrator’s decision is binding. Finally, there’s litigation, which is a court battle that is often expensive and used as a last resort.

What Method Is Generally Preferred to Resolve Contract Disputes?

The generally preferred method of resolving contract disputes is negotiation. It’s fairly flexible, cheap, and doesn’t take very long. Sometimes, both parties can just sit down and work out their problems, usually with lawyers present, and it works. You could even preserve the working relationship you have with the other party.

Contact Us Today to Resolve a Business Contract Dispute in Florida

At LMK Legal, we can work through a contract dispute in many different ways. Contact us to speak with one of our team members about your case.