Commercial Litigation
Our attorneys have extensive experience in successfully handling complex litigation and a broad range of business disputes, including:
- Business Torts, including RICO, fraud, embezzlement, fraudulent transfers, conversion, defamation, trade secrets, unfair competition, and business disruption and business loss cases.
- Contract Disputes, including loans and security agreements, distribution agreements, employment agreements, non-competition and non-solicitation litigation, cases under the Uniform Commercial Code, real estate disputes, and sales representatives claims.
- Corporate and Shareholder Disputes, including officer and director liability, shareholder and member disputes, corporate governance, and business dissolution.
- Financial Services, including suits involving banks and other financial institutions, brokers, representatives, and agents.
- Insurance, including insurance policy claims and coverage, declaratory judgment actions, and suits by and against insurance agents.
- Real Estate, including title and land contract disputes, title insurance claims, mortgages, condemnation proceedings, and trespass and nuisance claims.
- Construction, suits involving contractors, developers, and owners, construction contracts, and lien claims.
Business disputes often require creative and cost-effective approaches. Our expertise and experience in managing complex litigation, and in arbitration and mediation, enable us to resolve disputes effectively to meet our clients’ goals.
Securities Litigation, Arbitration and Enforcement
We have decades of experience in representing and advising investors, brokers, registered representatives investment advisers, and investment advisory firms in securities law matters, including:
- Securities fraud, unsuitability, breach of fiduciary duty and related claims involving investment accounts.
- SEC and state regulatory and administrative actions and proceedings involving registered representatives and investment advisers.
- Intra-industry disputes, including non-competition and restrictive covenant disputes, employment-related claims, contract and commission disputes, forgivable loan disputes, and U-4/U-5 defamation claims.
- Corporate and Shareholder Disputes, including officer and director liability, shareholder and member disputes, corporate governance, and business dissolution.
Given the near universal existence of arbitration agreements in brokerage account and investment advisory agreements, the vast majority of investor-related disputes are resolved through arbitration. We have extensive experience in litigating these claims in arbitration, both before FINRA and the American Arbitration Association.
Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
Jack J. Mazzara and Matthew D. Smith are trained in a wide range of alternative disputes resolution (ADR) methods, including arbitration, private judging, case evaluation, and mediation. Our firm has extensive experience arbitrating commercial disputes, securities and commodities disputes, business and employment cases, construction disputes, and condemnation cases. These matters involve a broad range of issues, including sales agreements, distributorship agreements, commercial and construction contracts, condemnation, securities fraud, and defamation.
Firm founder Jack J. Mazzara has over 30 years of experience as an arbitrator. He is approved by FINRA as an arbitrator for large, complex cases and injunctive relief cases, and is an arbitrator in commercial matters for the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Mazzara has also provided arbitration and other ADR services for the National Association of Securities Dealers/FINRA, the New York Stock Exchange, and the National Futures Association. In addition, Mr. Mazzara has served as a private judge, arbitrator, or special mediator in condemnation disputes, contract and corporate disputes, and commercial disputes.
Civil Litigation
Our attorneys have successfully represented clients in a wide-range of general civil litigation matters, including:
- Fraud & Misrepresentation. Under Michigan law, fraud and misrepresentation can occur in many forms. Our attorneys have extensive experience prosecuting and defending fraud and misrepresentation suits.
- Medical Provider Suits, including claims under Michigan’s No-Fault Act for payment of medical treatment and services performed for persons injured in motor vehicle accidents. Our attorneys have successfully litigated hundreds of medical provider actions for diagnostic testing facilities and surgical centers in Southeast Michigan.
- Personal Injury, including “third-party” negligence claims for persons severely injured in motor vehicle accidents.
- Attorney Malpractice, including claims involving professional negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, conflicts of interest, and violations of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct.
- Product Liability, including the prosecution and defense of lawsuits involving allegations of defective design, manufacture, and warnings.
- Conversion, Stealing, and Embezzlement, including claims for treble damages and attorney fees under MCL 600.2919a.
- Defamation