McAllen Contract Disputes Attorney

Experienced Representation for Entrepreneurs, Small-to-Mid-Sized Businesses, and Large Corporations

Contracts are the legal bones of a business partnership. If you believe there has been any violation of your contract, you have the right to take legal action. The Omar Ochoa Law Firm represents a range of clients, from entrepreneurs to small- and mid-sized businesses to large corporations, and he knows how to bring forward a contract dispute claim in an effective and efficient manner. He is not afraid of anyone; he has gone against almost every big law firm throughout the country, and you can trust that he will fight aggressively for your rights in the face of a contract dispute.

Call (956) 253-3121 or contact the Omar Ochoa Law Firm online for a free consultation.

What Constitutes a Breach of Contract?

Under Texas law, a breach of contract occurs when the following 4 elements are present:

• There exists a valid contract (below).
• The plaintiff performed or tendered the duties of the contract.
• The defendant did not perform their side of the agreement in the contract.
• The plaintiff incurred damage due to the defendant’s breach.

In short, to bring forward a contract dispute claim you must show that you complied with the contract while the defendant did not comply with their agreed-upon conduct, and as a result you experienced damages.

Note that there are several types of contract breaches, depending on the situation:

• Material misrepresentation of fact – a person was convinced to sign a contract based on misleading or false information. This voids the contract.
• Duress – the contract was signed under duress (e.g., blackmail, threat) or where significant pressure or force was applied to obtain a signature.
• Impossibility of performance – a person was unable to fulfill the contract based on uncontrollable circumstances, such as death of a necessary service provider, loss or destruction of relevant property, or passage of a law by which the contract terms are no longer applicable.

Elements of a Valid Contract

As mentioned above, one of the key elements of proving a breach of contract claim is showing that there is a valid contract between you and the defendant. According to Texas contract law, a valid contract contains the following:

• an offer;
• an acceptance of the terms of the offer;
• a “meeting of the minds”;
• communication that each party has consented to the terms of the contract;
• execution and delivery of the contract with intent that it is mutual and binding on both parties.

Resolving a Dispute

Note that the statute of limitations (time limit for bringing forward a claim) for contract disputes in Texas is 4 years. This means, under Chapter 16 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, that you must bring forward your contract dispute claim within 4 years of the date the breach occurred in order for the court to hear your case. If you fail to do so within the 4 years, you will lose the opportunity to compensation for your damages.

The remedies available for a successful contract dispute claim include recovery of reasonable attorney and court fees, as well as some amount of damages depending on the losses you suffered. To assess a potential award, the court will examine the terms of the contract, which might have already specified the penalties for a breach. If it is not specified, though, the court may order:

• the defendant to fulfill the contract terms as agreed;
• damages in the amount lost due to the contract breach (liquidated damage);
• damages for time lost, including the time it takes to repair damages;
• reimbursement for incurred expenses;
• reimbursement for future lost time and money;
• rescission (the court will cancel the contract and parties will no longer be required to perform);
• restitution (the defendant must return any gains from the breach).

If you are currently dealing with a contract dispute in McAllen, Texas, do not hesitate to contact the Omar Ochoa Law Firm for legal representation. Call (956) 253-3121 or reach out to us online for a free initial consultation.