CIVIL LITIGATION ATTORNEY IN WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

If you think that you had an agreement with a person or company and that person or company failed to live up to their end of the bargain, then you may have a claim for breach of contract.

BREACH OF CONTRACT / COLLECTIONS

A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties. A contract exists if

• there is an offer to do something or provide something

• the other party accepts that offer and promises something in return, such as payment

• consideration supports the agreement

• the parties are competent (capable of making an agreement)

• the parties intend to engage in agreement (there must be a “meeting of the minds”)

Unless some legally recognized excuse exists, the failure of either party to perform their promise is a breach. When a breach occurs, the non-breaching party may sue for damages or to enforce performance of the contract.

Most contracts require more than a handshake, but in some circumstances, verbal contracts may be enforceable. Certain contracts, such as those for the sale of goods, or for the sale of real property, must be in writing to be enforced in court. In general, it is a good business practice to reduce contracts to writing because the writing records the parties’ agreement better than their memories. The writing also makes protecting your rights more likely.

Related to actions for breach of contract are claims for unjust enrichment, indemnity rights, and promissory estoppel. If a person or business owes you money or has failed to hold up its end of the bargain, we have experience analyzing the facts within the framework of the law in order to help you achieve your goals, whether it be a compromise or a full recovery of money due you.

Although many cases settle, we are always willing and ready to go to trial. Sometimes in collections actions obtaining the judgment is the easy part and the actual collection is a challenge. We utilize all available means to collect on judgments, including wage and bank executions. 

UNFAIR TRADE AND BUSINESS PRACTICES

The Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) permits legal action for unfair trade practices, such as false and misleading advertising, empty guarantees, price manipulation, and “bait and switch” practices.  The failure of a business to adhere to certain legal requirements regarding refund fees, payment plans and other contractual terms could also be violations of CUTPA.

CUTPA provides for the recovery of actual damages as well as punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. If you think that you were the victim of unfair business practice, we want to listen to your story and help you recover. 

INTENTIONAL TORTS

A tort is simply a wrongful act. When a wrongful act causes harm to a person or property, Connecticut law may give the injured party the right to sue for damages, usually money, to compensate for harm which is caused by the wrongful act. Sometimes, a wrongful act is an accident, done negligently. Sometimes, however, a wrongful act is done on purpose, and in this situation, Connecticut law gives the harmed person the right to pursue a claim based on intentional tort. Common intentional torts include assault, battery, false imprisonment, trespass, conversion, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, invasion of privacy, and fraud. In many cases, these harmful acts are the subject of criminal cases. In a criminal case, it is the government that prosecutes the act for the good of the people. Injured people may still pursue justice for these acts in civil court and recover damages which can include costs incurred as a result of the injury as well as punitive damages.

We have experience in obtaining the recovery for persons harmed by others’ intentional torts. If you have been harmed by a person or organization’s intentional act, we can help you evaluate the facts and take action.