Construction Disputes Need a Clear Plan, Not Delays

Construction Litigation Tampa Bay and Business Disputes

Construction litigation Tampa Bay cases are one type of business dispute. They are lawsuits and arbitrations between companies, owners, partners, contractors and other business partners. When a payment, an ownership interest or a construction project becomes a conflict, the first steps matter. This page gives general information about business disputes. The result of any case depends on its facts. Ayala Law PA focuses on business litigation, commercial litigation, contract disputes, shareholder disputes, construction litigation, real estate litigation and international trade litigation in Florida courts and arbitration.

What Business Litigation Covers for Tampa Bay Companies

Business litigation covers disputes about business operations that end in a court case or an arbitration hearing. Most of these disputes start with a demand letter. Many move to a lawsuit when negotiations stall.

A business litigation lawyer usually works through several stages. These include evaluating the dispute, preserving evidence, filing or answering a complaint, exchanging documents and sworn statements during discovery, negotiating, mediating, and then a trial or arbitration hearing. Some disputes settle before any hearing. Others go all the way through.

Where a case is filed matters. Under § 47.011, an action must be brought in the county where the defendant resides, where the cause of action accrued, or where the property in litigation is located. This rule does not apply to actions against nonresidents. For many Tampa Bay businesses, that may mean Hillsborough County.

Arbitration usually happens because the parties agreed to it. Under § 682.02, a written agreement to arbitrate is valid, enforceable and irrevocable. The exception is a ground that exists at law or in equity for revoking a contract.

Contract Breach Disputes in Florida

Contract disputes usually turn on what the agreement required and whether each party met those requirements. Common examples include non-payment, late or missed delivery, wrongful termination, disputed change orders, and a supplier that never ships the goods.

Oral agreements can also lead to disputes. Proving their terms is often harder than proving written ones.

A contract that violates a statute or the constitution is not enforced. According to Taboada v. Duarte, a contract that violates a provision of the constitution or a statute is void and illegal, and Florida courts will not enforce it.

Deadlines matter for these claims too. Under § 95.031, the time to file generally runs from the time the cause of action accrues. A cause of action accrues when the last element of the claim occurs. Waiting too long can put a claim at risk. Start gathering the signed contract, amendments, invoices, correspondence, delivery records and written notices right away. A common mistake is waiting months while documents deteriorate.

Shareholder and Partnership Disputes

Shareholder and partnership disputes often start with the documents that govern the relationship. In an LLC, that is usually the operating agreement. In a corporation, it may be a shareholders’ agreement. In a partnership, it is the partnership agreement. These documents set the rules, so reading them closely is an early step.

Co-owner disputes carry practical risks. Operations can stall, decisions can freeze, and the value of the business can drop while the dispute continues. The documents and the history between the owners shape the path forward. In an LLC, a buy-sell clause can be decisive.

Construction Litigation Tampa Bay: Contractor Disputes and Lien Foreclosure in Hillsborough County

Construction disputes usually center on who should be paid, for what work, and whether the work met the contract. Owners, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers often clash over payments, the scope of work, defective work and schedule delays.

Lien claims follow their own notice and filing steps, so their deadlines need early attention. Some construction disputes also involve false statements about payments or work progress. The next section covers those claims.

Construction claims have their own deadline rule. Under § 95.11(3)(b), an action founded on the design, planning, or construction of an improvement to real property must generally be commenced within four years after the date the authority having jurisdiction issues a temporary certificate of occupancy, a certificate of occupancy, or a certificate of completion, or the date of abandonment of construction if not completed, whichever date is earliest. When the action involves a latent defect, the time runs from when the defect is discovered or should have been discovered with the exercise of due diligence, but in any event the action must be commenced within 7 years after the date the authority having jurisdiction issues a temporary certificate of occupancy, a certificate of occupancy, or a certificate of completion, or the date of abandonment of construction if not completed, whichever date is earliest. The time runs from the date the authority having jurisdiction issues a temporary certificate of occupancy, a certificate of occupancy or a certificate of completion, or from the date construction is abandoned if it is not completed, whichever date is earliest. For a latent defect, the time runs from when the defect is discovered or should have been discovered with the exercise of due diligence. The 7-year outer limit does not run from the date the defect was discovered. It runs from the certificate-of-occupancy, certificate-of-completion or abandonment date under § 95.11(3)(b), Florida Statutes. Deadline questions depend on the facts of each project, so raise them with our team early.

One detail often causes problems. In a project with multiple buildings, each building is treated as its own improvement for the deadline under § 95.11(3)(b).

Business Fraud and Interference Claims

Business fraud and interference claims depend on specific elements. Each one asks whether one party’s conduct caused a particular kind of harm.

Interference claims often involve a business relationship. One example is an employee who diverts a customer. Another is a third party who pressures a business partner to walk away from a contract.

Evidence is central to these claims. Emails, text messages, call records and dates can show what each party knew and when they knew it.

Commercial Real Estate Disputes in Brandon, Riverview, Plant City and Temple Terrace

Commercial real estate disputes in these communities often involve leases, purchase contracts, title questions and easements. A business may face a landlord, buyer, seller or neighbor over property it uses for its operations.

Both the contract and the property records can matter. Under § 47.011, an action may be brought only in the county where the defendant resides, where the cause of action accrued, or where the property in litigation is located; this section does not apply to actions against nonresidents.

Lease disputes often depend on the contract text, the notice requirements and what each party did after a problem arose. Purchase contract disputes often depend on their terms and deadlines. Keep every written notice.

We serve businesses in Brandon, Riverview, Plant City and Temple Terrace.

International Trade Disputes Affecting Florida Businesses

International trade disputes often depend on the contract terms themselves. Those terms include which law applies, where the dispute is resolved, and whether arbitration is required. Cross-border sales, shipping and distribution agreements, supplier non-performance, and unpaid invoices from foreign buyers are common examples.

Arbitration clauses carry weight. Under § 682.02, a court decides whether an agreement to arbitrate exists. An arbitrator decides certain issues, including whether a condition precedent has been met and whether the contract containing the agreement is enforceable.

Collecting a judgment is a separate stage. Under § 55.10, a judgment becomes a lien on real property in a Florida county when a certified copy is recorded there with the address of the person holding the lien. Under Fla. Stat. § 55.10, “This act shall apply to all judgments, orders, and decrees of record which constitute a lien on real property; except that any judgment, order, or decree recorded prior to July 1, 1987, shall remain a lien on real property until the period provided for in s. 55.081 expires or until the lien is satisfied, whichever occurs first.” The contract, the parties and the countries involved shape the approach.

How a Business Dispute Moves Through Court or Arbitration

Most business disputes move through a series of stages. These include evaluation, a formal demand, filing a complaint, discovery, motions, mediation, and then a hearing or a settlement. Deadlines and costs vary by forum and by the claims involved.

Mediation is a common stage. Under § 44.102, on one party’s request, a court must refer a filed civil action for monetary damages to mediation. Fla. Stat. § 44.102 reads: “(2) A court, under rules adopted by the Supreme Court: (a) Must, upon request of one party, refer to mediation any filed civil action for monetary damages, provided the requesting party is willing and able to pay the costs of the mediation or the costs can be equitably divided between the parties, unless: 1.” Under Fla. Stat. § 44.102, a court, under rules adopted by the Supreme Court, must, upon request of one party, refer to mediation any filed civil action for monetary damages, provided the requesting party is willing and able to pay the costs of the mediation or the costs can be equitably divided between the parties, unless an exception applies. Exceptions include a landlord and tenant dispute that does not include a claim for personal injury, an action governed by the Florida Small Claims Rules, an action the court determines is proper for referral to nonbinding arbitration, and a case where the parties have agreed to voluntary trial resolution under s. 44.104. Fla. Stat. § 44.102 reads: “(2) A court, under rules adopted by the Supreme Court: (a) Must, upon request of one party, refer to mediation any filed civil action for monetary damages, provided the requesting party is willing and able to pay the costs of the mediation or the costs can be equitably divided between the parties, unless: 1.” Fla. Stat. § 44.102 lists exceptions, including an action filed for the purpose of collecting a debt and a case in which the parties have agreed to binding arbitration. The current text was amended in 2026 (ch. 2026-16).

When a court refers an action to mediation, the time to respond to certain settlement offers is tolled. The tolling lasts until the mediator declares an impasse or reports that no agreement was reached, as stated in § 44.102.

Fees for case evaluations and representation are explained when you contact the firm.

Who Handles Your Case and Where the Office Is

Eduardo A. Maura is the lawyer responsible for this page. The firm’s only office is at 1646 W Snow Ave in Tampa, Florida. The firm serves businesses in Tampa, Hillsborough County and the wider Tampa Bay area.

Our lawyers handle business disputes in Florida courts and arbitration. Matters include contract, shareholder, construction, real estate and international trade disputes, plus business fraud and interference claims. Our support staff helps with scheduling and documentation.

Some matters may be referred to another lawyer or firm when that serves the client’s needs. When that applies, we will say so.

Take the Next Step in Your Tampa Bay Business Dispute

Start by gathering the documents tied to your dispute. Bring the signed contract, any amendments, invoices, notices, emails and text messages, and a written timeline of key facts. A clear timeline shows when the problem began and who knew what, and when.

Frequently Asked Questions