Tampa Civil Litigation Attorney
Attorney Laura A. Olson is an experienced litigator who has handled a variety of business and commercial disputes in Hillsborough County courts and other courts throughout Florida, including the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. If you find yourself on either end of a business dispute, The Law Office of Laura A. Olson, P.A., is prepared to help you settle your dispute efficiently and effectively, whether through negotiation, mediation, arbitration or the courts. Learn more about our Tampa civil litigation attorney below, and contact our office to discuss your case and how we can help.
Tampa Breach of Contract Disputes
A contract lies at the heart of every business deal, construction project, real estate purchase or sale, or any other commercial transaction. Some agreements may be oral, while others must be in writing to be enforceable. Some contracts contain express terms, while other contracts or terms are implied in law by the conduct of the parties. Remedies for a breach can include actual money damages; liquidated damages; injunctions to enjoin, stop or prevent behavior; or requirements that specific provisions of the contract be performed or fulfilled. Florida contract law is built up over hundreds of years and contains complex rules regarding how contracts are interpreted and what kinds of evidence can be used to resolve a contract dispute.
Attorney Laura A. Olson is with you pre-suit to help you understand your options and formulate the best strategy for risk management, loss mitigation, or to enforce your rights under a contract. We’ll help you resolve your contract dispute with the most efficient means that are most likely to yield a successful result on your behalf.
Business Torts
Not all business disputes or civil litigation are contract-based. Business owners can be accused of unfair competition, false advertising, or other conduct prohibited by the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA). Our office represents consumers and business owners prosecuting or defending claims under FDUTPA and other state and federal laws imposing penalties for fraud, misrepresentation and other business torts.
Commercial Landlord-Tenant Disputes
Commercial landlord-tenant law in Florida imposes duties on both landlords and tenants. For instance, tenants may have the right to exclusive possession of the property, yet the landlord may retain the right to enter the premises for inspections, repairs, or to show the property to a prospective tenant when the current lease is soon to expire. Terms such as these should be spelled out in the lease to clearly define landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities, but this is not always the case. Additionally, there may be a number of warranties that are expressly written into the lease or implied by law. These warranties for a commercial property may include a warranty of fitness or suitability for a particular purpose, or the right to use the property without interference from the landlord. The landlord, meanwhile, may be able to control a tenant’s activities that unreasonably interfere with the rights of other tenants on the property.
The Law Office of Laura A. Olson, P.A., helps commercial landlords and tenants understand and litigate lease provisions, including actions for collections, evictions, money damages for property loss or business interference, injunctions, and more.
Construction Defects
Florida law on construction defects requires the property owner to give the contractor a notice of the defect before filing any lawsuit. The contractor then has the opportunity to fix the problem or engage its insurance company to negotiate an out-of-court settlement without the need for litigation. Construction defects can be extremely expensive to fix, and they can be even more costly if the defect causes a personal injury. Tampa construction defect attorney Laura A. Olson represents property owners and contractors in litigation over design errors, claims of faulty workmanship, the use of substandard materials, code violations, enforcement and/or defense of contractor liens, and other grounds.
Shareholder Disputes
As owners of the corporation, shareholders are right to question the decisions of officers and directors who may have breached their fiduciary duties to the corporation through self-dealing, conflicts of interest, or bad business dealings. At the same time, shareholders may not have a complete grasp on how or why decisions are made at the management or board level. Corporate litigation attorney Laura A. Olson represents parties in partnership and shareholder disputes and other commercial litigation, helping protect important rights and vital business interests.
Civil Litigation Appeals
When civil litigation goes to judgment, the case often results in a winner and loser. A logical next step for the loser is to consider the pros and cons of filing an appeal. Appeals are not retrials, and not all trial lawyers handle appellate work, nor should they. Appeals are often decided on the basis of written briefs filed by the parties. When appellate courts do order oral argument, the process is very different from the way a trial proceeds. Laura A. Olson is a skilled and experienced appellate lawyer who understands the importance of preserving the trial record for appeal, reviewing a trial transcript for appealable grounds, and preparing a thorough, expertly researched and persuasively written appellate brief. If you are considering an appeal in your civil case or have received notice that the other side is appealing, call The Law Office of Laura A. Olson, P.A., to review your options and determine the next steps.
Comprehensive Tampa Civil Litigation Attorney
For breach of contract disputes, business torts, or any civil dispute in the greater Tampa area, call The Law Office of Laura A. Olson at 813-222-0888 for a free initial telephone consultation. We offer a variety of fee structures to meet your needs, including contingency fee arrangements in appropriate cases.
