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The types of business disputes present in a location will often depend on the sorts of businesses that dominate in a city, town, or county. For example, many business litigation cases in the college town of Bloomington, Indiana, involve food and beverage establishments (such as bars and restaurants), commercial leasing companies, and disputes between business owners and their employees.
These disputes, even when unfounded, can be incredibly costly for you as a business owner, as they eat up valuable time, divert you away from running your business, and can be expensive. A good business law attorney will shoulder the legal burdens for you, allowing you to do what you do best and run your business smoothly.
The first thing you should do is to get in touch with a business law attorney you trust and develop a plan of action. You should also review your agreements with the partners or shareholders to have a fresh grasp of their duties and obligations toward you.
Next, pay more attention to the suspected bad actor without alerting them to your suspicion. A bad actor who becomes aware of increased scrutiny can easily destroy documents related to their dishonest or illegal behavior. Your attorney can help you navigate the task of keeping a keener eye on this person without making them aware of your misgivings.
This increased oversight can help you and your attorney more effectively gather evidence of dishonesty and help to minimize financial losses, as well.
Your attorney will help gather evidence of dishonest behavior and present it to the other party and their attorney. Presented with evidence of their wrongdoing before a case is filed may cause the other party to suggest mediation, in an attempt to resolve the issue without going to court. Mediation is not binding, however, and leaves you with little control over whether the other party agrees to the terms.
Arbitration, on the other hand, resembles a privately-held court proceeding. It involves discovery, where the parties exchange documents, and is overseen by one or more arbitrators who make a decision binding on both you and the other party.
In between mediation and arbitration are a host of alternatives that combine aspects of both approaches. An experienced business law attorney can help you decide which route would be best for you and your business interests.
Unfortunately, business litigation is not cheap. While a good attorney will work efficiently and carefully, litigation takes time, and an attorney taking the time to investigate the case properly will lead to fees.
Preparing the case, defending the case, and ultimately arguing the case before a court will all take time, time that is likely to be billed by the hour. This is especially true of the discovery process, which can be lengthy. Appealing a judge’s decision can be expensive, as well, running anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 on top of existing fees.
A common scenario our firm encounters are the business owners or employees who try to handle the business dispute on their own, only to quickly find themselves over their heads. Regrettably, yet frequently, by the time our firm is contacted, it is too late for any attorney to help their predicament. As the Cheshire Cat tells an indecisive Alice in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, if you don’t know (or care) where you’re going, “it doesn’t much matter which way you go.”
So it is vital, from the first time when you think you need to speak to a lawyer, that you seek competent counsel to help you navigate the contours of the problem you have uncovered, and to be sure that heading to court (if necessary) is the right decision for you and for your business.
Unfortunately, you cannot control what other people do and cannot always prevent business partners from behaving unethically or illegally. But you can conduct your own affairs with integrity, honesty, compassion, and a genuine concern for your business partners, employees, customers, and vendors.
Aside from what you can do yourself, working with a competent, thorough attorney, from the first moment when you suspect a problem, can make all the difference. If you’re a victim of unethical business practices, either as a business owner or an employee, reach out to Schneider Law, P.C. We can work with you, help you protect your rights and fight for the compensation and dignity that you deserve.
For more information on Business Litigation In Indiana, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (812) 561-7772 today.