Our practice in the area of business litigation covers the entire range of issues that individuals, businesses and corporations engage when they enter into business relationships. We represent individuals and businesses, both as plaintiffs and defendants, in a wide variety of matters of business and commercial enterprise. In the past we have represented small, sole proprietorships as well as large, publicly traded corporations.

While some traditional business cases are only handled under a retainer agreement with an hourly billable fee, there are circumstances where our firm can offer alternative fee arrangements. In certain cases and fact situations, we can handle your business disputes under a contingency fee arrangement, which means that we will only receive our fee if we are successful in resolving the dispute. In other situations, we can handle business disputes with a reduced hourly rate, and a reduced contingency, which allows our clients the flexibility to bring their claims into court. It is our goal to offer the right fee arrangement for each type of case, giving our clients the greatest opportunity to assert their legal rights.

Fraud/Deceptive Practices

In many instances, business relationships are initiated under false pretenses. Fraud, committed with the intent to induce a person or business to enter into a contract or business relationship, in many cases allows the affected party to void an unfair deal, or, in some cases, also recover additional monetary damages for the fraudulent conduct exhibited by the wrongdoer. At Rush & Gransee, L.C., we have represented business and individuals that have been the victims of fraud in their business dealings, and we aggressively protect our client's rights.

Contracts

When individuals and/or businesses enter into a relationship, issues involving contracts are highly significant. Properly drafting contractual relationships is an important step in avoiding disputes and potential legal problems at a later time. Irrespective of this, contract disputes can arise and require legal resolution. When contractual disputes arise, we have the experience and knowledge as trial lawyers to navigate the complex field of issues to best protect your legal and financial interests - in enforcing your legal rights under a valid contract, or in allowing a party to escape the constraints of a contract that is not a legal and binding document.

Trade Secrets/Proprietary Information

The Uniform Trade Secret Act defines a trade secret as "...information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process" that has independent economic value as result of its secrecy. Trade secrets need not be registered to receive protection under federal and state law.

For obvious reasons, the protection of trade secrets is very important to businesses. The unauthorized or otherwise unlawful use of trade secrets can have serious economic consequences within the competitive marketplace. Additionally, businesses often develop their own proprietary information within their industry, and in certain circumstances can patent their original ideas. We have successfully sought to recover patents and other proprietary information taken by one business from another, in an attempt to gain a competitive advantage. At Rush & Gransee, L.C., we aggressively prosecute and defend trade secret and proprietary information cases on behalf of our clients. We use all recourse available under the law to protect our clients' rights.

Other Areas of Business and Commercial Disputes

Laws have been developed specific to many other areas of business, commercial and consumer transactions. Among the other areas that we provide effective representation to our clients are in issues involving patents and intellectual property, construction, real estate, banking and securities litigation.

If you are an individual or small business owner who believes that your legal or economic rights have been compromised, contact Rush & Gransee, L.C. and learn how we can put our knowledge and experience to work for you.