Simkin & Associates - Real Estate and Business Attorneys:
Breach of Contract

Breach of Contract Lawyers
 

When two or more parties are mutually bound by the terms of a contract/agreement and one of the parties fails in its performance of the terms of that agreement, including by failing to perform their contractual promise(s), provides information informing the other party that they intend to not perform their duty, or is unable to perform their duty, as stated by the terms of the agreement, that party is in breach of contract.

 

Many Breach of Contract disputes can be settled without litigation by negotiation, mediation, or arbitration (referred to as Contract Dispute Resolution).  Those cases that do not settle are left to contract litigation where a law suit is filed in civil court.

 

It is important that you contact us the moment that a breach has occurred as there may be certain duties that you must adhere to before the other party can be held for Breach of Contract. 

 

Important:  There may be certain methods and timing requirements pertaining to the notification by you to the breaching party that a breach has occurred. There may also be a contractual cure-period whereby the breaching party has a set contractual amount of time to cure the breach from the time that they are notified.

 

More information about Breach of Contract:

Not all breaches of contract are curable so it is vital that we be notified as soon as possible so that we can take the necessary steps to secure your rights.

There are 4 common types of Breach of Contract.

• Minor Breach:  A minor (also referred to as an immaterial or partial breach of contract) is where the breaching party does not adhere specifically to the terms of the agreement but such breach does not invalidate the agreement itself nor can it compel the breaching party to perform their contractual duty.  For example if you hire a building cotnractor to do construction on your house and to then paint your house with a certain brand of paint and the contractor chooses another brand of paint that is of equal quality but perhaps of slightly lesser value, then you may sue the contractor for the difference in actual value of the two brands of paint. (See more on Construction Law)
  
   
• Material Breach: In this case one party has breached the contract terms in a way that has caused damage to the non-breaching party.  An example of this would be if the seller of a house in the agrees to replace the heating unit of the property and failed to do so the non-breaching party may sue for the damages incurred (e.g. the actual cost of adding the heater) or may cause the breaching party to perform their duty by purchasing and installing the heater. (See more on Real Estate Law)
  
   
• Fundamental Breach:  A fundamental breach of contract is a breach so large that it provides the non-breaching party with the right to invalidate the contract and to sue for damages.  If a leasing company agrees to lease you an apartment or office space and they lease it to another person or business, while you have already given up your lease on another location and expended time and money to prepare for taking over the new lease, then you can sue the breaching party (the leasing company) for damages and to compel them fulfill their duty by leasing the space to you.  (See more on Landlord / Tenant Disputes)
  
   
• Anticipatory Breach:  A breach of anticipatory repudiation occurs when a party’s failure to perform their duty to the contract is, to a reasonable person using common sense, training or experience, imminent and indicated or failure to perform is inevitable.  This may entitle the non-breaching party to an invalidation of the agreement and to damages incurred as a result of breach.
   

Damages for Breach of Contract:  Damages in most cases are monetary and are to place the non-breaching party at the place (when they are the receiver of the goods or service) where they would have been had the contract not been created, or be placed (when they are the provider of the goods or service) at the point where they would be had the contract been fully completed.  When a monetary value cannot be ascertained or are not sufficient to compensate the non-breaching party there may then be an equity decree entered by the court with an award of an injunction or specific performance.
 

Note:  It is vital for the non-breaching party to attempt to mitigate the breach when and where possible.  This is among the many reasons that you should notify us as soon as possible when you become aware that a breach either has occurred or is even likely to occur.
 

 

Click to contact us today if you are a victim of Breach of Contract: or call 310-788-9089

 

 

Common Types of Breach of Contract:
 

Car Purchase Agreement / Car Loan Agreement

Commercial Breach of Contract

 

 

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Including Van Nuys, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Culver City, Burbank, and the communities in Ventura County, Orange County, and Los Angeles County