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Here are the most common reasons businesses get sued

On Behalf of | Jan 31, 2022 | Business Torts

The law defines torts as any civil causes of “harmful behavior, such as a physical attack on one’s person or interference with one’s possessions or with the use and enjoyment of one’s land, economic interests (under certain conditions), honor, reputation, and privacy.” 

Some torts are specific to businesses. If you’re a business owner, you need to be prepared for the claim or lawsuit that’s eventually going to happen, because no business has smooth sailing forever. 

What are the most common business torts?

Every business has unique concerns, but the most common business torts are as follows:

  • Business defamation, libel, or product /commercial disparagement refers to any untrue statements or communications against your business or practice.
  • Fraud covers a wide range of deceitful acts, such as embezzlement, falsifying expenses, and claiming more work hours than were done.
  • Intellectual property claims are very common. This refers to disputes over intellectual property, copyright infringement, or theft.
  • Breach of fiduciary duty refers to any employee, CEO, or person who works on behalf of their own interests, rather than the interests of the business or company.
  • Interference with business relations/contracts refers to any business that purposely interferes with your companies contracts or business relationships.
  • Invasion of privacy refers to the harm done by publishing confidential information or appropriating the identity of a member of said business.

When your business is faced with a lawsuit in any of these areas, you need to be proactive.

Should my company fight back against a claim?

The short answer is, “Yes.” A lawsuit can be very damaging to your company’s reputation, cause financial loss or ruin, and destroy what you have worked hard to build. 

Say, for example, you learn that another business has been spreading false information about the quality of your product. This false information can cause you to lose customers, thus damaging both your reputation and your bottom line. Fighting back usually means meeting the offending party in court. To do this in Florida, make sure that you get an experienced legal take on the strengths and weaknesses of your case.