When two individuals or companies in Michigan enter into a contract, each party is legally obligated to fulfill the promises that were laid out in the agreement. A party who does not perform could be found to have breached the contract. This can occur when a party does not fulfill its end of the deal at all or fails to perform on time or in accordance with the terms of the contract.
After a contract is breached, a contract dispute might arise between the two parties. Depending on the nature of the alleged breach, one or both parties involved in the dispute might attempt to enforce the contract on its terms. Normally, a contract dispute that cannot be resolved informally is worked out through the court system.
A party that is found to be in breach could be ordered to remedy the situation for the other party to the contract. The most common type of remedy for a breach of contract is payment for damages. A judge might order the breaching party to pay compensatory damages to the non-breaching party so that it can be in the position that they would have been in had the contract not been breached. In some cases, a judge may order specific performance of the terms.
One that is involved in a contract dispute might want to seek representation from an attorney. In some cases, an attorney who has experience in business and commercial law matters can help a client in negotiating a settlement agreement outside of the court system. Doing this may save both parties a great deal of time and expense.
Source: FindLaw, “Breach of Contract and Lawsuits”, accessed on Feb. 5, 2015
