All businesses in the state of Florida need to be familiar with Florida’s Consumer Collection Practices Act (“FCCPA”). The FCCPA is found at Sections 559.55-559.785 of the Florida Statutes. The FCCPA is intended to protect consumers and is intentionally unfair to creditors. See §559.552, Fla. Stat. (2019); Kelly v. Duggan, […]
One of the most important considerations for commercial property owners and managers is maintaining tenant occupancy. However, commercial property owners and managers will inevitably encounter tenants who refuse to pay rent or who refuse to vacate the premises after the lease term has ended. In these situations, the owner or […]
In addition to the concern over actually contracting the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”), business owners have additional concerns, to wit: how the reaction to COVID-19 will impact their business and how they can protect their business and mitigate losses during this volatile time. Much of these concerns are created not by contracting […]
Adequate parking is essential to most businesses. Sufficient parking is needed for a business’s employees, customers or vendors. Most commercial lease agreements will address parking or will address common areas, which may include parking. Depending on a tenant’s business, adequate parking may be a material term of the commercial lease […]
Most lawyers can recite the elements for a cause of action for breach of contract. However, not as many lawyers can explain the effect of a prior material breach on a contract. This article analyzes prior material breaches and the effect on future performance of the contract. Many of the […]
Every small business contract should include a provision that states that the business is entitled to recover the maximum rate of interest permitted by law both prejudgment and postjudgment. Many contracts provide for the recovery of interest, but very few provide for the recovery of postjudgment interest at the highest […]
Including an attorneys’ fees provision in a small business contract is vital when a small business wants to sue to enforce its contract. Without an attorneys’ fees provision, a lawsuit may become cost prohibitive for a small business. Part 1 of this Blog provided an overview of the importance of […]
An exclusive venue provision, or commonly referred to as a forum selection clause, is an integral part of every small business contract. Including an exclusive venue provision in a small business contract is extremely important for a small business that provides labor, materials or services to clients located in different […]
A large part of my practice involves litigating contract disputes on behalf of small businesses. I frequently receive inquiries from small businesses that are looking to enforce their contracts. More times than not, the small business has a poorly drafted contract that was either drafted by the small business itself […]
All contractors and subcontractors in the State of Florida should know that a contractor and a subcontractor may each claim a lien for the same work on a particular project. However, the contractor and the subcontractor cannot both recover for the same work. The key is recovery. Florida law has […]