In any industry, it is reasonable to expect a fair amount of competition. It is also reasonable to expect that those you deal with – whether they are your business partners, employees, contractors, or vendors – uphold their end of any agreement you have in place.
When others try to take advantage of you through unfair or illegal practices, they are no longer playing by the rules. These dishonest dealings are known as business torts. You may be able to hold those who commit them accountable through swift and decisive legal action.
At Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers, we are committed to protecting business owners in Columbia and Lexington from those who would take advantage of them. Our experienced South Carolina business tort lawyers will fight hard for your business and increase your chances of recovering damages for your financial losses, whether in or out of court.
If you need experienced legal counsel for a business matter, contact the Columbia business lawyers of Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers by phone or online today.
Types of Business Tort Cases We Handle
No matter how well you run your business, there are many ways in which others can try to take advantage of you to their own financial gain. Here are some of the common types of business torts for which a party can be held liable in a lawsuit:
- Breach of fiduciary duties. Business officers and directors are entrusted with power and decision-making in business. Unfortunately, they don’t always honor the trust that is placed in them. When they breach their duties to the company, to their partners, or to the shareholders, they can put the business in jeopardy.
- Defamation and trade libel. For most businesses, their reputation in the community is their most valuable asset. Other businesses and customers turn to a business’s reputation when making important decisions. Damage to a business’s reputation can lead to loss of sales contracts, loss of customers, and a long-term loss of profit. Defamation is the term for false and misleading statements that age a business’s reputation. Trade libel is a particular type of defamation unique to businesses. When individuals or organizations make false statements about a business or its products, they are engaged in trade libel.
- Fraudulent misrepresentation. Fraudulent misrepresentation is the act of making false statements or misleading others. In the context of a business, these false statements can have major effects. Businesses may allocate resources or make long-term plans based upon statements they believed to be true. When the statements are false, this can lead to significant losses and danger for the business.
- Theft of trade secrets. Many businesses rely on confidential and proprietary information to conduct their business. Financial plans, intellectual property, and many other pieces of critical information can make up the core of a business. Unlike patents or other formally protected information, trade secrets can be nearly any type of information that is central to the operation of a business. Too often, business partners and employees take this property for their own benefit. They may try to sell the information, or they may try to use it for their own benefit.
- Restraint of trade. When individuals or organizations work to prevent a business from operating as it should, it may be a restraint of trade case. Price-fixing and efforts to establish a monopoly fit the definition of restraint of trade. If you’re considering bringing a restraint of trade case, it’s critical to understand what activities may qualify as restraint of trade, and which activities may not.
- Tortious interference with a business. Businesses work hard to provide their products, generate profits, and pay their employees. Businesses are encouraged to compete with each other but they are expected to abide by legal and industry rules. However, some individuals and businesses don’t. They may induce others to break agreements with a business, or they may actively interfere with the operation of a business in order to make the business lose money.
This is not an exhaustive list of business torts. There are other ways in which bad actors can try to take advantage of you and your business. Whatever dishonest dealings you have been the victim of, the South Carolina business tort lawyers of Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers can help you hold the perpetrator accountable.
Recovering Damages in a Business Tort Case
Business torts can cause the immediate loss of profits, but they can also cause unseen, future damage to your business’s profitability and reputation. Thankfully, you can sue for all of these losses.
Here are some of the damages you might recover in a business tort claim:
- Lost profits
- Money transferred in a fraudulent transaction
- Reputational damage
- Cost of replacing property
- Cost of other corrective measures
- In some cases, exemplary damages
Whatever present or future losses you are trying to recuperate, you will have to prove that the party you are suing cost you by doing something dishonest or illegal. Our experienced South Carolina business tort lawyers can help you determine what kinds of damages you might be able to seek, depending on the specifics of your case and how your business was harmed.
Contingency Fees Make Our Firm a Safe Investment
You’ve suffered an economic loss because of another party’s dishonest business dealings. But can your business afford the legal fees to hold that party financially accountable? With Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers, the answer is always yes.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we will charge for our legal services only if we successfully recover damages in your case. If your case is unsuccessful, our services are free. This means that no matter how small your business is, working with Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers is a safe investment.
Contact Us Now for Help With a Business Tort Matter in South Carolina
When you’ve worked hard to build an honest business, you never want to be on the receiving end of a dishonest deal or action. Recovering from undue harm to your business can be difficult for you, your employees, and all who depend on you. Fortunately, help is available to you.
The South Carolina business tort lawyers of Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers stand with hardworking business owners like you. With offices in Columbia and Lexington, we are ready to help you hold the parties responsible financially accountable in a business tort case. We will handle your case with the utmost care and respect, and you won’t pay us anything unless we win.
If unfair practices have harmed your business, don’t hesitate. Call the South Carolina business tort lawyers of Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers today for more information on how we can help.
