Tampa Business Litigation Blog

Is your company ready for a lawsuit?

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.

If your Florida company has never faced a lawsuit, you have been lucky so far. Business owners often find themselves on one side or the other of a legal action. These actions require time, money and resources from your business, and they have the potential to damage the reputation of your company.

Lawsuits are common and can come from many different directions. In fact, you may find it is necessary to file your own claim to protect your interests. Because of this, it is wise to prepare your company for this possibility and to know the best ways to protect your rights if you are a party in a legal action.

Former coach accuses KU athletics program of breach of contract

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Contract Disputes on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

When it comes to ending a business arrangement prior to the date agreed upon in the initial contract, the sudden termination of an agreement could prompt intense contract disputes. Individuals in Florida who encounter such disputes may wish to take all the necessary precautions to protect their business interests and legal rights, but the process can be complex. The former head coach of a leading university's football program has recently filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the university, claiming it owes him nearly $3 million.

The former coach asserts the incident began when he was fired from his position as head coach in Nov. 2018. He claims that under the terms of his contract, the university would have to pay him $3 million if his position in the program was terminated without cause. However, he asserts that the facility has refused to comply with the terms of the contract and states that it has instead chosen to fabricate allegations of rule violations to avoid having to pay him what he is owed.

Hospital accuses group of doctors of breach of contract

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Contract Disputes on Thursday, March 7, 2019.

There are a multitude of scenarios in which two or more companies in Florida or elsewhere may find themselves caught up in intense contract disputes. Whether a business relationship goes south or one party feels that the other has failed to uphold its end of the agreement, knowing how to handle such a dispute can be a complex process. A group of doctors in another state are facing allegations of breach of contract after claiming a hospital owes them just under $2 million.

The lawsuit reportedly stems from an agreement in which the hospital reached an agreement to allow the group to to handle the facilities emergency room. The group reportedly claims that at some point, the hospital decided to stop paying them for services rendered. They also assert that upon attempting to speak with the necessary parties about the issue, the hospital suddenly decided to terminate the contract.

Koppers accuses former employee of violating trade secrets laws

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Trade Secret And Non-Compete Disputes on Thursday, February 28, 2019.

Upon entering retirement, some individuals in Florida and elsewhere may find that too much free time could leave them yearning for something to fill the void. Should these individuals choose to accept a position in a field they are accustomed to, their former employers may have concerns about the sharing of proprietary information, especially if the new employer is a competitor. A company named Koppers has recently filed a lawsuit accusing a former employee of violating trade secrets laws.

The incident reportedly began when the man informed his employer of his intent to retire. The company organized an event to celebrate his years of dedication. However, after he retired, Koppers claims it learned that he had decided to accept a role as an adviser with a competitor, and the company filed a lawsuit accusing the man of taking proprietary company information along with him to his new job.

Florida senator proposes changes to noncompete agreements

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Trade Secret And Non-Compete Disputes on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

While there may be opportunities for career advancement available, for many workers in Florida and elsewhere, the process might not be as easy as filling out an application. Even those who work minimum wage jobs may be restricted by noncompete agreements at times. Florida Senator Marco Rubio has recently took to social media to promote a bill that would limit the use of similar agreements in low wage jobs, but some feel this change might not be enough.

According to reports, Senator Rubio has recently filed a bill named the Freedom to Compete Act. If passed into law, this act would reportedly prohibit employers from using noncompete agreements to keep low wage workers from seeking out higher paying jobs in a competing field. However, there are certain stipulations concerning who would benefit from the change, and some feel that it may still leave the majority of workers with little hopes of advancement.

Is your business partnership showing signs of serious issues?

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. on Tuesday, February 19, 2019.

Having a business partner or multiple business partners can often make starting a business or continuing operations easier. Partners may mean that more funds are available to get operations underway and to take further steps toward success. Of course, even with business partners, your company may still have a long way to go before reaching that desired success.

Unfortunately, some partnerships that seemed a perfect match in the beginning may show signs of breaking down later. If you ignore certain signs that your partner may no longer feel invested in the company, the business could take a turn for the worse.

Protecting against theft of trade secrets in a digital era

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Trade Secret And Non-Compete Disputes on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

Many companies in Florida and elsewhere place a high value on protecting the sensitive information on which their success is built. However, while this used to involve securing documents in a locked drawer or safe, protecting trade secrets in a digital age can be a more intricate process. Company owners may wish to know more about how to spot a potential theft of trade secrets, and what steps to take should this occur.

A company's trade secrets can consist of various types of information, such as product recipes or designs, or even client data. With many companies using online outlets to store company information, the threat of losing or having this information stolen is ever-present. The theft of proprietary information can impact a company in a variety of ways, some of which could prove disastrous.

Marketing company files lawsuit over noncompete agreement

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Trade Secret And Non-Compete Disputes on Thursday, February 7, 2019.

Many businesses in Florida may require employees to sign an agreement stating that they will not accept a position with a rival company for a set time period upon leaving the company. However, when it comes to enforcing a noncompete agreement, some may argue that the terms within are too broad and restrictive. A marketing agency in another state has recently filed a lawsuit against a former employee after claiming he violated his noncompete agreement.

New Boston Creative Group filed the lawsuit against a former employee after he is said to have accepted a position with another marketing company named 502. The company claims that he signed an agreement stating that he could not accept a job with a competitor within 50 miles for up to one year after his employment was terminated. The company says it is concerned that he will attempt to draw customer contacts away, and it is seeking to block him from retaining his new position.

PGA files breach of contract lawsuit against tour sponsor

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Contract Disputes on Thursday, January 31, 2019.

Becoming a sponsor for a major business entity can give a company in Florida or elsewhere a substantial amount of exposure. However, it can also be a major responsibility, and should either party fail to fully comply with the terms of the arrangement, heated disputes may ensue. The Professional Golfer's Association has recently filed a breach of contract lawsuit against a tour sponsor after claiming the company failed to keep up with sponsorship fees.

The lawsuit reportedly stems from an agreement between the PGA Tour and the company Digital Ally. The company entered an arrangement to become a sponsor for the tour and have one of its tournaments named the Digital Ally Open. Although the deal was originally set to continue for a five-year period, the PGA Tour asserts that the other company hasn't paid its annual sponsorship fees for two years.

Harley Davidson accuses 1 of violating noncompete agreement

On behalf of Barker & Cook, P.A. posted in Trade Secret And Non-Compete Disputes on Thursday, January 24, 2019.

After building a healthy reputation over years of service in their respective fields, some individuals in Florida and elsewhere may wish to try their hand at entering the realm of self employment. However, should a person choose to operate in a similar field, his or her previous employer might contest that the move is in violation of a noncompete agreement. A Harley Davidson dealership in another state has recently filed a lawsuit against a former employee under similar circumstances.

After working as a mechanic for a Harley Davidson outlet for more than 20 years, the man set out to open his own business. He says that his initial intention was to work on dirt and performance bikes. However, he asserts that he began receiving requests from former clients asking him to service their bikes and says that he eventually ended up opening his own shop several months later.