Business Disputes
Sico, White, Hoelscher Harris & Braugh represents clients in a variety of business disputes. As a contingency fee firm, we bring a unique perspective to business litigation. We focus on maximizing the recovery for our client in the shortest possible time—a goal that often conflicts with the interest of hourly billing firms. In addition to promoting the efficient and timely resolution of business disputes, our contingency fee structure also mitigates significant economic risks for clients who lack the financial resources to pursue their rights in difficult or complex cases, or simply prefer not to risk capital in pursuing a claim.
When evaluating a firm to handle your business dispute, you should consider not only the qualifications and experience of counsel but also the mindset of the firm as a whole. When the primary focus on your case is the prosecution, as opposed to the defense, of claims, you want lawyers on your side who make their living prosecuting claims and who are accustomed to satisfying the burden of proof of the plaintiff's case. Sico, White, Hoelscher Harris & Braugh has the insight and expertise to evaluate and handle your business dispute.
Natural Resources Litigation
Sico, White, Hoelscher Harris & Braugh has handled oil and gas related disputes on behalf of landowners, working interest owners and independent oil companies. Our mineral and landowner litigation has involved issues such as title disputes, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, pollution and contamination, breach of lease, and mineral and geophysical trespass. Working interest and oil company clients have engaged Sico, White, Hoelscher Harris & Braugh to evaluate and litigate cases involving failed workover and drilling operations, pooling disputes, errant well location surveying and breach of contract issues arising from disputes with drilling contractors and other oil field service companies.
We have also consulted with landowners and mineral owners concerning uranium leasing and mining issues, particularly with respect to surface use issues and water resource contamination associated with in-situ mining operations. In addition to promoting the efficient and timely resolution of oil, gas and other natural resources disputes, our contingency fee structure alleviates a significant portion of the economic risks for clients who lack the financial resources to pursue their rights in these often difficult and complex cases. Oil, gas and natural resource litigation often lends itself to even more creative alternative fee arrangements given the nature of working interest and lease disputes that may arise. Sico, White, Hoelscher Harris & Braugh is flexible and willing to entertain a variety of alternative contingency fee arrangements that better suit the needs of the client in these cases.
Shareholder Suits
A company's directors and controlling shareholders owe duties of care not only to the company but also to minority shareholders, who are powerless to make or affect the important corporate decisions that can significantly injure their interests. The value of stock can be severely affected by accounting scandals, failure to properly disclose liabilities or earnings, and other types of corporate mismanagement. In many cases, company management or controlling shareholders may actually participate in business dealings with the company that involve significant conflicts of interest, or may vote to liquidate the interests of minority shareholders for improper reasons. Unraveling the often-confusing facts, intricate deals and complex contracts is the key to uncovering the truth in these cases.
A corporation's mission is clear—to operate in the best interest of its shareholders, which not only includes maximizing share value but also involves acting as a good corporate citizen and providing honest and complete information and evaluations of the ongoing business. Taking on a major corporation may seem like a daunting task, but our attorneys are ready to stand by you to provide confident, knowledgeable and aggressive representation in these cases.
Insurance Bad Faith
Insurance companies generally owe a duty to fairly and efficiently evaluate your claim and provide you coverage and assistance in a time of need. That is why most people and companies pay insurance premiums. Unfortunately, when you need it most, many insurance companies focus on attempting to deny or limit the claim, rather than honoring the contract and the duties owed to you.
The attorneys at Sico, White, Hoelscher Harris & Braugh have represented individuals and businesses in a variety of disputes with insurance companies, including cases involving breach of an insurance agreement, insurance bad faith and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing—a duty that many states impose upon insurance carriers.
