Breach of Contract Attorneys in Van Nuys

Protecting Employees Against Contract Breaches in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley

When you sign an employment contract, you expect your employer to keep to their end of the agreement. If your employer fails to fulfill their obligations, you may have grounds for a breach of contract claim. At Laurel Employment Law, our attorneys can help you take legal action to enforce your contract and recover compensation for your losses.

Call (310) 929-6371 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with an experienced breach of contract lawyer.

Employee Breach of Contract Claims in Van Nuys

Many workers are unsure whether their situation truly counts as a breach of contract under California law, or whether it is simply unfair treatment. In Van Nuys and the greater Los Angeles area, written employment agreements, offer letters, bonus plans, and even certain policy documents can create enforceable contractual rights. We help employees evaluate these documents in light of California Labor Code provisions and local court decisions so they can understand whether their employer’s actions rise to the level of a breach.

When you contact a breach of contract attorney at our firm, we review your employment history, communications with your employer, and the impact of the alleged breach on your income, benefits, and career. We also consider how judges in nearby venues such as the Van Nuys Courthouse East and the Stanley Mosk Courthouse typically approach employment contract disputes, which can influence whether negotiation, mediation, or litigation is the best path forward. This practical, local perspective helps you decide whether to pursue a claim and what remedies may realistically be available.

Understanding Breach of Contract in California

A breach of contract occurs when one party fails to fulfill any of its contractual obligations without a valid legal reason. When a breach of contract occurs, the party harmed by the breach may be entitled to file a lawsuit for damages, either consequential, reliance, or punitive, caused by the breach.

Types of Breach of Contract Explained:

• Material breach: This occurs when one party fails to fulfill a significant contractual obligation, such as not delivering a product or service as promised. A material breach of contract typically allows the non-breaching party to cancel the contract and sue for damages.
• Minor breach: This occurs when one party fails to fulfill a minor contractual obligation. The non-breaching party may still sue for damages, but they are not entitled to cancel the contract.
• Anticipatory breach: This occurs when one party makes it clear that they will not be able to fulfill their contractual obligations. The non-breaching party may sue for damages.
• Fundamental breach: This occurs when one party fails to fulfill a fundamental contractual obligation, which makes it impossible for the other party to receive the benefit they were promised. The non-breaching party may sue for damages and may also be able to cancel the contract.

When it comes to employment contracts, a breach of contract may occur when the employer does not fulfill their obligations, such as not paying the employee their wages, not providing the employee with the benefits they were promised, or terminating the employee without cause. If you believe your employer has breached your employment contract, you should contact an employment law attorney right away to discuss your legal options.

How to Prove a Breach of Contract

When filing a breach of contract claim, the non-breaching party has the burden of proving that a valid contract existed, the non-breaching party fulfilled their contractual obligations or was excused from doing so, the breaching party failed to fulfill their contractual obligations, and the non-breaching party suffered damages as a result of the breach. If the non-breaching party cannot prove these elements, the court will likely rule in favor of the breaching party.

To prove a breach of contract, the non-breaching party must be able to show the following:

• Contract formation: The non-breaching party must be able to show that a legally binding contract existed between the parties. A contract is a legally binding agreement that is formed when one party makes an offer, and the other party accepts that offer. The parties must also have legal capacity, or the ability to enter into a contract. For example, a minor does not have the legal capacity to enter into a contract.
• Contract performance: The non-breaching party must be able to show that they fulfilled all of their contractual obligations or that they were excused from doing so. If the non-breaching party did not fulfill their obligations, they may be considered the breaching party.
• Breach: The non-breaching party must be able to show that the breaching party failed to fulfill one or more of their contractual obligations. The non-breaching party must also be able to show that the breaching party’s failure to fulfill its obligations was not excused.
• Damage: The non-breaching party must be able to show that they suffered damages as a result of the breach. Damages may include economic losses, such as lost wages, benefits, or business profits, and non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering.

When it comes to employment contracts, the non-breaching party may be able to recover a variety of damages, depending on the terms of the contract and the nature of the breach. For example, if the employer failed to pay the employee their wages, the employee may be able to recover their unpaid wages, as well as any other economic losses they suffered as a result of the breach. If the employer terminated the employee without cause, the employee may be able to recover their unpaid wages, as well as their lost benefits, lost business profits, and any other economic losses they suffered as a result of the breach. The employee may also be able to recover damages for their pain and suffering.

Get the help you need from an experienced breach of contract lawyer in Van Nuys. Fill out our online form without delay.

How to Remedy a Breach of Contract

In most breach of contract cases, the non-breaching party will request the court to award them damages. Damages are intended to compensate the non-breaching party for the losses they suffered as a result of the breach. In some cases, the non-breaching party may also be able to request specific performance or an injunction.

There are three primary types of damages in breach of contract cases:

• Compensatory damages: These damages are intended to compensate the non-breaching party for the losses they suffered as a result of the breach. Compensatory damages are the most common type of damages in breach of contract cases and may include economic losses, such as lost wages, lost benefits, lost business profits, and any other financial losses, and non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering. In most cases, the non-breaching party has a duty to mitigate their damages, which means they must take reasonable steps to minimize their losses. If the non-breaching party fails to mitigate their damages, they may not be able to recover certain damages.
• Consequential damages: These damages are intended to compensate the non-breaching party for the losses that were caused by the breach, but that were not directly caused by the breach. Consequential damages are only available if the non-breaching party can prove that the breaching party knew or should have known that the breach would cause these damages. For example, if the non-breaching party can show that the breaching party knew or should have known that the breach would cause them to lose business profits, they may be able to recover consequential damages for their lost business profits.
• Punitive damages: These damages are intended to punish the breaching party for their wrongful conduct and to deter others from engaging in similar conduct. Punitive damages are only available if the non-breaching party can prove that the breaching party engaged in fraud, malice, or oppression. In most cases, punitive damages are only available in breach of contract cases that involve a breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing.

When it comes to employment contracts, the non-breaching party may be able to recover a variety of damages, depending on the terms of the contract and the nature of the breach. For example, if the employer failed to pay the employee their wages, the employee may be able to recover their unpaid wages, as well as any other economic losses they suffered as a result of the breach. If the employer terminated the employee without cause, the employee may be able to recover their unpaid wages, as well as their lost benefits, lost business profits, and any other economic losses they suffered as a result of the breach. The employee may also be able to recover damages for their pain and suffering.

In some cases, the non-breaching party may be able to request specific performance or an injunction. Specific performance is a court order that requires the breaching party to fulfill their contractual obligations. Specific performance is typically only available if the subject matter of the contract is unique and cannot be replaced with money damages, such as an antique or a rare piece of art. An injunction is a court order that requires the breaching party to stop engaging in a certain type of conduct. An injunction is typically only available if the breaching party is engaging in illegal conduct or if the non-breaching party is seeking to enforce a non-compete agreement.

Finally, the non-breaching party may be able to request an equitable remedy, such as rescission or reformation. Rescission is a court order that cancels the contract and returns the parties to the positions they were in before the contract was formed. Rescission is typically only available if the non-breaching party can show that the contract was void or voidable, such as if the contract was formed as a result of fraud, duress, undue influence, mistake, or illegality. Reformation is a court order that changes the terms of the contract to reflect the true intentions of the parties. Reformation is typically only available if the non-breaching party can show that the contract does not reflect the true intentions of the parties, such as if the contract contains a mutual mistake.

How to Avoid a Breach of Contract

One of the best ways to avoid a breach of contract is to ensure that the contract is properly drafted and that all of the terms and conditions are clearly defined. If the contract is ambiguous or contains vague terms, the parties may not fully understand their obligations, which can lead to a breach of contract. To avoid this problem, the parties should clearly define all of their obligations and include specific deadlines, performance standards, and other requirements. The parties should also include provisions that address how to handle a breach of contract.

For example, the parties should include a provision that requires the parties to engage in good faith negotiations to resolve any disputes that arise under the contract. The parties should also include a provision that requires the parties to submit any disputes to binding arbitration. Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution that is similar to a trial. During arbitration, the parties present evidence and arguments to a neutral arbitrator, who will then issue a binding decision. Arbitration is typically more informal and less expensive than a trial and allows the parties to have more control over the process. If the parties do not want to include an arbitration provision in the contract, they may be able to include a provision that requires the parties to submit any disputes to mediation. Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution that is similar to arbitration. During mediation, the parties present evidence and arguments to a neutral mediator, who will then help the parties reach a mutually agreeable resolution. Mediation is typically more informal and less expensive than arbitration and allows the parties to have more control over the process. However, unlike arbitration, mediation is not binding, which means the parties are not required to resolve.

In addition to including these provisions, the parties should also include a provision that requires the parties to submit any disputes to the court that has jurisdiction over the contract. This provision will help ensure that the parties have access to the court system if they are unable to resolve their dispute through good faith negotiations, arbitration, or mediation.

Contact us online or call (310) 929-6371 today to schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable breach of contract attorney in Van Nuys right away.