Breach of Contract Attorney

Contracts are the foundation of business, commerce, and society at large. They consist of written or spoken agreements, which are legally enforceable. 

Contracts can be between two or more parties, and they can be used for the most simple and basic transactions. A viable contract can be just one paragraph long, or it can be hundreds of pages long, covering every aspect of the most complex transactions.

Business ContractOnce a contract is formed, both sides are legally obligated to do what is required of them in the contract. Failure of one party to perform as required by the contract will often be deemed a “breach of contract.”  In the event of a breach of a contract, the person injured by the breach of contract is entitled to relief in the form of recovery in a court of law.

At TonaLaw, if you have entered into a contract that is not being honored by the other side, our breach of contract lawsuit lawyers are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Our goal is to help you seek the maximum amount of compensation available for all losses related to non-performance or a breach of contract. 

We offer free case evaluations to anyone who believes they may have a case. Give us a call at 1-833-TONALAW or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation today.

What Exactly Is a Contract?

The earliest known contracts date back to Ancient Sumerian, Greek, and Roman societies. 

In its simplest definition, a contract is a recitation and memorialization of an agreement between two or more parties that evidence their agreement on key terms and duties as well as their obligations to a transaction or relationship.

There are typically three phases to the life of a contract:

  1. Pre-contract analysis and negotiation
  2. Contract formation, either oral or in writing
  3. Performance of the contract by the parties to the contract.

While many contracts can be formed orally, there are certain classes of contracts that must be in writing to be legally enforceable. This is mandated under laws known as a state’s “Statute of Frauds” laws. New York’s Statute of Frauds Laws can be found in the New York General Obligations Laws.

What Makes A Contract Legally Enforceable?

To be enforceable a contract must have the followings requirements satisfied:

  • Offer and Acceptance — There must be a clearly defined offer by one party and a clearly defined acceptance of the offer by the other party
  • Consideration — Each party must exchange something of value to the other party. This can be money, services, time, etc.
  • Legal Purpose — A contract cannot be formed for illegal purposes or for the purposes of ensuring the performance of an illegal act
  • Capacity — The parties to a contract must be legally capable of entering into the contract, which means they must be of legal age, and of sound mind and body, meaning they cannot be mentally or physically incapable of contracting.
  • Meeting of the minds — Also known as “mutual assent” to the contract. To be legally binding, the parties must intend to be bound by the contract and all of its terms.

What is a Breach of Contract?

Simply put, “breach of contract” is a broken agreement to perform on one side of a contract, which causes damage to the side that was promised performance under the contract or specific terms of the contract.

To prove a breach of contract in court, you must prove four essential things:

  1. That a valid contract existed between the parties
  2. Performance by the person bringing the lawsuit, the plaintiff
  3. Failure of the other side to perform under the terms of the contract
  4. Damages directly resulting from the breach of contract.

What Are The Most Common Breach of Contract Cases?

Our office has litigated thousands of breach of contract cases since we opened in 2001. While we have seen a wide variety of these types of cases, below are some of the most common we are seeing at present.

Insurance Contracts

Large companies enter into thousand of contracts a year. Some, like insurance companies, enter into literally millions of contracts a year. Every time you buy business owners insurance, or insurance for your car, motorcycle, home or boat, or any other type of insurance, you are contracting with the company for the purchase of insurance.  You pay money in exchange for insurance coverage to pay you in the event of specific losses or damage.

Businesses and individuals enter into contracts with insurance companies. Insurance contract litigation is voluminous and frequent. This is because, typically, once an insurance claim is made, the parties may have a difference of opinion as to what proper performance under the insurance contract might look like.

You may have been paying homeowners insurance and flood insurance prior to Hurricane Sandy, only to find yourself in a quagmire of denials, or exclusions to coverage once the claims were made.

Exclusions to coverage are a significant source of insurance breach of contract litigation, as the exclusion language is often worded in a way that leads to different interpretations by the parties to the contract. Often, the insurance companies will deny claims despite very clear wording, relying on a certain percentage of the population just accepting their denial despite the clear intent of the contract.

COVID-19 Insurance Denials

Recently, with the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) carriers began sending out NOTICE TO POLICYHOLDERS, to businesses that contracted for Businessowners Policies, also known as “BOP”. These letters were sent as an attempt to thwart even the intention of filing claims by business owners. The notice essentially said, “we know you paid for Business Income and Extra Expense Coverage under your business owners policy, but this event is not going to be covered because of the Exclusion Of Loss Due To Bacteria Or Virus.”

These notices have gone out, it was revealed in several instances that the insurance contract and exclusions were poorly worded and that there would in fact, be several very strong grounds for breach of contract litigation against the carriers.

These are just two examples where breach of contract claims against insurance carriers was — or will be — voluminous. 

Sweetheart Deed Cases

According to the US Census Bureau, as of 2018, the number of young adults living together unmarried is on the rise.  In 2018, the Census Bureau reported that the number of adults, ages 18 to 34, that lived with an unmarried partner was steadily on the rise, as marriages between young adults continued to decline.

Often, these same young adults choose to purchase a home together despite being unmarried, and despite the legal ramifications of such ownership.  Specifically, our office has seen a sharp increase in the number of cases being filed by parties that were once living together after having jointly purchased a home together.

Once two parties are on a deed, they are considered co-owners of the property.  They cannot just break up and walk away, as the property ownership and financial responsibilities continue on until the legal ownership and financial issues are resolved legally.  

While these matters can be resolved amicably, far too often litigation is required as the parties cannot typically agree on an equitable resolution of the matter. One party may have put in more money; a party may have personally done work to the property to increase the value, and many times familial gifts of cash or other monies may be involved.

The last thing someone wants after a breakup is to be entangled in a property ownership dispute, but if this occurs, you need to know your rights and responsibilities.  

At TonaLaw, our property deed lawsuit lawyers are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. 

If you have purchased a property with someone you are not married to and are now facing a deed dispute, we offer free case evaluations to anyone who believes they may have a case. Give us a call at 1-833-TONALAW or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation today.

Money Owed

By far the most common breach of contract claim we see is for monies owed. Typically, one party lends money to another party, or a contract is entered into for services, and payments are made. Breach of contract occurs when, after payment has been made by one party, the other party fails to make a repayment, or fails to render the services properly in accordance with the contract. In these cases, the non-performing party violates its agreement and is responsible for the initial value of the contract.

Money owed can also refer to non-payment for services or goods already rendered to the individual. This is especially common in business relationships where services/goods are rendered up-front and then invoiced through an accounts receivable process later.

Vendors, contractors, private parties, and even fellow attorneys often face situations where they must “track down” parties with outstanding debts. Both written contracts and verbal contracts can constitute enforceable agreements requiring the payment of monies owed for goods or services rendered. If payment cannot be obtained through accounts receivable, they must look to a “money owed” breach of contract claim to hold the individual responsible in court for the unpaid amount.

“Business Partner” Disputes

Businesses are typically owned by more than one owner, and that can be in the form of shareholders, members or partners.  For our purposes here the term “partner” means anyone you might be involved in a business with that is deemed an equity owner.  Many times at the beginning of a business relationship, parties will bring on equity partners without understanding what that relationship could devolve into years into the relationship.  

The parties to such contracts may also have two very different versions of a contract in their head once a dispute arises, especially if the contract was strictly verbal or involved documents with multiple versions.  It often will result in a dispute over monies owed from the business, ownership of hard assets of the business, ownership of key accounts and the like.

Often, an experienced breach of contract attorney is needed to establish the enforceable aspects of the contract, prove that there was a “meeting of the minds,” and hold non-performing parties accountable for their breach.

Construction Contract Disputes

Construction contracts often breed contract disputes. They are, typically, lengthy, involving a large volume of key provisions to be complied with.

Whether it is a property owner that has failed to pay sums due to a general contractor, a general contractor that has failed to pay its subcontractors or any other variety of construction disputes, it is important to preserve both evidence and a timeline of occurrences.

Working with a breach of contract lawyer can help you interpret the language of a construction contract and enforce penalties for non-performance to the fullest extent of civil law.

Speak with an Experienced Breach of Contract Lawyer Regarding Non-Performance or an Unreasonable Claim Denial

At TonaLaw, our contract lawsuit lawyers are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. If you have entered into a contract that has been breached by the other side, we want to help you recover all of the damages that have resulted. 

We offer free case evaluations to anyone who believes they may have a case. Give us a call at 1-833-TONALAW or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation today.

What Our Clients Are Saying

TonaLawExcellentTonaLaw5.0 Based on 397 reviews fromSee all reviews review us onDavid MottDavid Mott ★★★★★ The help I recieved at TonaLaw was second to none. I am unfamiliar with law and they were able to get me going in the right direction. Thank-YouRose FrancisqueRose Francisque ★★★★★ Kj MuchKj Much ★★★★★ The whole team has been extremely passionate, caring and understanding thru this whole process. This was a first for me. The firm came highly recommended thank you Ralph.Special thanks to Jayda a Ana. Thanks again.RONZA DIGIORGIORONZA DIGIORGIO ★★★★★ I was referred to Tona law by a friend following a horrific accident. Mr. Tona himself called me immediately from his family vacation and set me up with a team of professional , caring people that guided me through my recovery every step of the way. I would give 10 stars if i could !Muhammad KhanMuhammad Khan ★★★★★ Jayda and laureen are so nice and professional and they really helped me from start to finish and they always respond me back. Please get help from tonalaw if you need any in regards to accidents. ThanksRoxana PachecoRoxana Pacheco ★★★★★ My father, seek them out for a case in December and Ana has been fantastic. Ana has reassured all his concerns and has been nothing but amazing with any follow up questions that we have had. Besides being very compassionate, and friendly she’s also bilingual! Definitely would recommend anyone to TonaLaw!Response from the ownerThank you so much for your review! We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience with Ana and how she has been able to address all of your concerns with care and professionalism. We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and are here for any further assistance you might need. Best wishes from the TonaLaw team! Anthal ArizagaAnthal Arizaga ★★★★★ Penelope is so helpful and very easy to talk too, I’d recommended this law firm to anyone who is involved in an accident! You will be taken care of!Response from the ownerThank you so much for your wonderful review and recommendation! David KesslerDavid Kessler ★★★★★ Excellent law firm. Top notch attorneys and the friendliest receptionist Robin who was my first contact with the firm and her reception of me made me feel that I had made the right decision in finding a firm with people who really cared about meVanessa LopezVanessa Lopez ★★★★★ I have known Lauren for years and can confidently say, she goes above and beyond for her clients. She is always willing to help and go the extra mile and it is so very appreciated!Response from the ownerVanessa, thank you so much for this wonderful review! Julee HutchisonJulee Hutchison ★★★★★ I was given the opportunity to create and produce a newsletter for TonaLaw. Juliet Accomando directed the project and I found the whole experience to be very professional and well organized. Juliet was receptive to design ideas, responsive to emails and appreciative of our working relationship. It was a pleasure to work with TonaLaw. I look forward to future projects.Response from the ownerThank you so much for taking the time to leave such a fantastic review! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the experience of creating the newsletter for TonaLaw. We truly appreciate your kind words about Juliet as well. We are equally excited about our upcoming projects! Marina DelfelMarina Delfel ★★★★★ Tona Law has been wonderful and so, so easy to work with! The entirety of my time working with them, their team has been extremely professional, kind and dedicated! I am so happy to have gotten to work with such an amazing team!Response from the ownerWe're incredibly grateful for your kind words about your experience working with Tona Law. Thank you so much Marina! Lydia KaboolianLydia Kaboolian ★★★★★ Response from the ownerThank you for your review! Karen RadoslovichKaren Radoslovich ★★★★★ My interactions with Janira have been wonderful! She's always upbeat, knowledgeable, 100% approachable....and thinking out of the box. I look forward to working with her on many future projects.Response from the ownerThank you so much for taking the time to share your positive experience with Janira! We're thrilled to hear that your interactions with her have been wonderful. Your kind words mean a lot to us and motivate us to keep exceeding expectations. Robert J McCarrollRobert J McCarroll ★★★★★ Everything I've had to do with the firm is positive. Everyone at Tona Law has always been a pleasure to work with and very prompt and professional. I look forward to serving them again!Response from the ownerThank you for leaving such a wonderful review about our team. We appreciate your kind words! Daniel FeimanDaniel Feiman ★★★★★ Everyone at Tona Law is great to work with. I enjoy all of our interactions.Response from the ownerThank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review, and it means a lot to hear that you enjoy our interactions. Ed AlexanderEd Alexander ★★★★★ Tom is a great lawyer, but more importantly, Tom is a relatable person. My friend and colleague for over a decade, I’ve watched his dynamic entrepreneurial take-charge style develop a hard charging firm with a supportive culture and a team that does excellent work, achieves great results, and truly cares about clients. Tom’s energy is contagious – I always get a boost when I spend time with him. I highly recommend Tona Law.Response from the ownerEd, thank you so much for this amazing review. Your recognition of our hard work means the world to us especially because we pride ourselves on our client care and results. We appreciate your recommendation! MJPT-1MJPT-1 ★★★★★ Working with TonaLaw has been a wonderful experience. The kind staff which I am very pleased with is always professional and attentive. I highly recommend!Response from the ownerYour kind words about our team truly warm our hearts! We strive to provide a professional and attentive experience for every client, and it's so rewarding to know we're succeeding. Thank you for choosing TonaLaw and for the wonderful recommendation! Mitchell YorkMitchell York ★★★★★ Tom Tona and all the professionals at Tona Law have a deep commitment for fighting for what’s right. The firm is relentlessly focused on their clients’ cases, as a matter of empathy and professional pride. The company is process driven and disciplined in everything they do.Response from the ownerThank you for your wonderful 5-star review! Your acknowledgment of our dedication and disciplined approach truly means a lot to us. We remain committed to delivering the best for our clients and are grateful for your trust and support. Vanessa VajkoVanessa Vajko ★★★★★ TonaLaw has an amazing scholarship program opportunity for fellow veterans and incredibly kind people to talk with! The application process was also fairly prompt and seamless. I am so grateful for this scholarship and highly recommend that other veterans get on board with applying. Thank you again!!! :)Response from the ownerThank you for applying to our scholarship and for sharing your experience! It is a pleasure to be able to assist you in your education journey. Thank you for leaving such a thoughtful review and thank you for your service! Jennifer CaceresJennifer Caceres ★★★★★ I highly recommend using tonalaw. Lauren and Jada are amazing. Any questions or concerns I had they answered. I am happy I choose tonalaw .Response from the ownerThank you so much for your review Jennifer! We are so glad to hear that you were pleased with our responsiveness and thoroughness in addressing your questions and concerns. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to providing our clients with the best possible legal representation. Thank you again for your kind words. We are honored to have you as a client. Carlos UmanaCarlos Umana ★★★★★ Excelente atención buena comunicación contestan mis preguntas con sinceridadResponse from the ownerThank you so much for your review Carlos! Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we will continue to strive to provide you and all of our customers with the outstanding service you deserve. Yanira Del ValleYanira Del Valle ★★★★★ Mr. Tona is such a wonderful human and attorney. So helpful, without a second thought, he shares his knowledge and experience. He helps makes this Plaintiff community a better one. Thank you!!!Response from the ownerThank you Yanira! It was so great meeting you. Marvin SortoMarvin Sorto ★★★★★ TonaLaw is a very reputable firm. Ana is such a great asset to the firm. She is also bilingual with many years of experienceResponse from the ownerThank you for your kind words Marvin! gary gundersengary gundersen ★★★★★ I’ve been to tona law several times already and I’ve had the pleasure to deal with Ana both time and she was amazing. Made sure all paperwork was in order and is super thorough with everything. Highly recommendedResponse from the ownerThank you so much for taking the time to share your positive experience with us at Tona Law. We are so glad to hear that you were pleased with the services provided by Ana. We are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality legal representation, and we are always striving to exceed expectations. Jennifer PorterJennifer Porter ★★★★★ Tom Tona puts so much emphasis and effort into developing a fantastic law firm, delivering excellent results for their clients and also staying at the forefront of law firm management skills. I am super impressed by my conversation and interaction with Tom and am happy to recommend him!Response from the ownerJennifer, thank you so much for this wonderful review. We are delighted to hear that you were impressed with your conversation and interaction with Tom. We strive to provide a positive and supportive experience for all of our clients, and we are so glad to hear you had such a positive interaction with Mr. Tona. Thank you again for your kind words. Janet SowinskiJanet Sowinski ★★★★★ Lauren, one of the paralegals at Tona Law is very knowledgeable, compassionate and very professional. She genuinely cares for her clients and is always willing to go the extra mile to help. Having known her for several years, i can confidently recommend both Lauren and Tona Law to anyone seeking great assistance.Carmen SandovalCarmen Sandoval ★★★★★ Quiero darles las gracias por haberme representado en mi caso, felizmente estos abogados lograron ganar ni caso, y estoy muy satisfecha por su gran trabajo, hablan español y la señorita Ana es muy atenta y cordial y amable con sus clientes, muchisinas gracias x sus servicios ademas de ser rapidos, nos ayudan mucho especialmente a las personas qué sólo hablamos español, les recomiendo este servicio de abogados muy honestos. Muchas gracias👌😘Miguel MenaMiguel Mena ★★★★★ Ana is extremely knowledgeable and a great asset to your firm! Definitely will be coming back.Sandie RivasSandie Rivas ★★★★★ Ana is amazing! Working with her was extremely enjoyable. She is a great asset to Tonalaw and always eager to help!Darwin RomeroDarwin Romero ★★★★★ Ana was an absolute pleasure. She was incredibly knowledgeable and thoughtful throughout the entire process. Highly recommend!Emma SortoEmma Sorto ★★★★★ Ana is a wonderful personal. She is very talented and very hardworking. Best thing is that she is bilingual! Always willing to help anyone who is in need of a hand! You are in great hands at Tona Law!nicole garcianicole garcia ★★★★★ Couldn’t recommend Lauren more!!! I’ve known Lauren for years, she is a dedicated, hard worker and is so professional when it comes to her job. She really cares about her clients and doing the best for them.Dolceprincipessa xoDolceprincipessa xo ★★★★★ I highly recommend Will Ramos as a lawyer. He is a true professional. He explained my options with me and was very accessible & kept me updated! I also had the pleasure of working with Jayden. She was great as well. They assisted with my case and helped me tremendously! Highly recommend :)yessenia lopez ramosyessenia lopez ramos ★★★★★ I have know Attorney Will Ramos for many years. He is very detail oriented, a great advocate, and an empathetic individual.I have referred a few clients during their time of need over to Will and the friendly staff at Tona Law. He is willing to go above and beyond for others.CARLOS RODRIGUEZCARLOS RODRIGUEZ ★★★★★ I have known Will Ramos for 15 plus years and can attest to his character in placing the needs for others above his own. He is an asset to any organization and a team player with positive attitude.Jessica MalaveJessica Malave ★★★★★ I’ve known attorney Will Ramos for 16 years he always places the needs of others above his own. He is a caring man and super understanding and has a big heart.Bianca RamosBianca Ramos ★★★★★ Attorney Will Ramos is awesome the law firm is lucky to have someone like him part of their team. He genuinely cares for others and is always willing to lend a helping hand.Response from the ownerBianca, thank you for leaving a wonderful review for our firm. We are lucky to have Will Ramos as part of our team! Arianna RamosArianna Ramos ★★★★★ Attorney Will Ramos is nothing short of dedicated and hard working. Each case he works on demonstrates his passion for law and his care for his clients.Response from the ownerThank you for your review, Arianna! Will Ramos has been a wonderful asset to our team. JenneferJennefer ★★★★★ I've had the pleasure of knowing Lauren for quite a while now, and I must say, her dedication to her clients is truly remarkable. She takes immense pride in her work as a professional she seamlessly balances her role at Tona Law, where she's involved in legal matters. Having seen her commitment and skill firsthand, I can confidently recommend both Lauren and Tona Law to anyone seeking top-notch assistance.Celine Aubry-DumandCeline Aubry-Dumand ★★★★★ I had a great experience working with TonaLaw.The team was really friendly and helpful throughout the entire process.Response from the ownerCeline, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review for our firm. We are so grateful we were able to help you and provide you with a great experience. Thank you! Adam OmallyAdam Omally ★★★★★ I have known Lauren one of the paralegals at Tona law for many years and she is dedicated to her profession and helping her clients. Wonderful person.Alexandra RandazzoAlexandra Randazzo ★★★★★ Lauren at TonaLaw was extremely helpful! She was so nice and professional. I highly recommend asking for her!Margaret CaschettaMargaret Caschetta ★★★★★ I have known Lauren for a long time and she’s always been dedicated to her job! Excellent at anything she’s ever done.NICOLE GUASTONICOLE GUASTO ★★★★★ Lauren’s great- reliable empathetic the whole package - years of knowing her I wouldn’t ask for anyone elseKeith MaederKeith Maeder ★★★★★ I have known Lauren, one of the paralegals, for many years. Her client first approach is second to none. She is knowledgeable and professional. She as an asset to both her clients and Tona Law.Emily PadillaEmily Padilla ★★★★★ Ana was super professional and very polite! Answered all the questions that was needed! Highly recommend, wish I can give 10 stars!Kailynn ApolinarisKailynn Apolinaris ★★★★★ Ana is amazing! As an old coworker I can say Ana is always ready to assist. She is a great asset to anyone lucky enough to work with her.Response from the ownerKailynn, thank you for leaving a wonderful review for our firm. Ana is truly a wonderful part of our team! peter alsenpeter alsen ★★★★★ In all of my dealings with the TonaLaw office, the lawyers and staff have been excellent.They have earned my confidence and trust.Response from the ownerWe are so pleased to hear that you’ve had such a great experience with our team. Your confidence and trust in our firm is greatly appreciated! Thank you so much for your review! Ashley VelazquezAshley Velazquez ★★★★★ Ana was knowledgeable, courteous & helpful throughout everything! She was willing to go the extra mile! It was a delight working with her. You’re in great hands when working with Ana!!Patty RivasPatty Rivas ★★★★★ The team is fantastic. I worked with Ana directly and appreciated how quickly she was able to respond back to me and provide efficient, excellent results. I would work with her again!Response from the ownerThank you so much for your kind words about Ana and the rest of our team! js_loader