Businesses compete in many different ways, but not every competitive practice gives rise to a legal claim. When allegations of unfair competition arise, courts evaluate the facts of the dispute, the conduct involved, and the applicable law before determining how…

Contracts are generally formed because both parties expect to receive a particular benefit from the agreement. In some disputes, however, unexpected events may significantly affect the purpose that motivated one or both parties to enter into the contract. When these…

Contracts do not always end through formal termination or complete performance. In some situations, questions arise about whether the parties have effectively abandoned an agreement through their actions rather than through an express written statement. When disputes involve an alleged…

Contracts generally require the parties to perform the obligations they agreed to undertake. In limited circumstances, however, an unexpected event may make performance objectively impossible, raising the legal defense of impossibility. Courts carefully evaluate whether the claimed impossibility meets the…

Legal claims are often subject to filing deadlines that determine how long a party has to bring a lawsuit or assert a legal right. In limited circumstances, however, courts may consider whether those deadlines should be extended through the doctrine…

In some civil cases, a party may ask the court to authorize the attachment of another party’s property before a final judgment is entered. Because this remedy can significantly affect property rights, courts carefully evaluate whether the legal requirements have…

Many contracts establish deadlines for completing specific obligations, but not every contractual deadline carries the same legal significance. When disputes arise over delayed performance, courts carefully examine the agreement, the surrounding circumstances, and the applicable legal principles before determining how…

Written contracts often become the focus of disputes when the parties disagree about what the agreement means or whether earlier discussions should affect its interpretation. In these situations, courts carefully examine the contract, the surrounding circumstances, and the applicable legal…

Not every contract dispute begins after a party has already failed to perform. In some situations, one party may indicate before performance is due that they do not intend to fulfill their contractual obligations. Courts evaluate the surrounding facts to…

Not every contract that has a legal problem is treated the same way. In some situations, a contract may be considered void, meaning it has no legal effect from the beginning. In others, a contract may be voidable, meaning it…