In October 2021, a shopping mall conglomerate sued a retailer in one of their malls located in Palm Beach county for nonpayment of rent and associated fees. Here’s what to know about the lawsuit, if you should hire a lawyer, and who to call. 

The Lawsuit 

According to a complaint recently filed in the Palm Beach County Circuit Court, a jewelry business in Boca Raton’s Town Center Mall hasn’t made payments towards their commercial space rental since Summer of 2021. 

The jeweler now owes a substantial amount of back rent.  According to a default notice issued by Simon Properties, the business that operates Town Center Mall, the specific total originally owed by founders Oma and Isaac Levy is upwards of $152,223.

Per the lawsuit, on or around July 21, 2017, YVEL signed a contract with Simon Properties, agreeing to a monthly minimum rent payment of $7,532.63 for the commercial space. 

The contract specified that when the store earned more revenue, they would owe additional rent, as well as $2,416 per month for operational expenditures, $164 per month payment to a media fund, $164 per month commitment to a publicity fund, and property taxes. 

However, according to the lawsuit, YVEL has not satisfied any of these financial obligations since April 2020. According to the suit, YVEL owes Simon Properties a total sum of $161,673 to date. Simon Properties ordered the jewelry establishment to pay their back rent in full or vacate the property, however, the store has refused to do either. 

The suit states, “Plaintiff’s (Simon Properties) Notice of Default demanded that Defendant (YVEL) pay the full amount of the unpaid rent then owed, or deliver possession of the Premises back to Plaintiff. Defendant Tenant refused and/or otherwise failed to do either.”

Should You Hire a Florida Real Estate Litigation Attorney? 

If you’re a business involved in a real estate dispute, it’s generally in your best interests to consult with an experienced real estate litigation attorney to determine your next steps. Without the help of a lawyer, you stand to incur significant losses. 

Contact Feinstein Real Estate Litigation & Business Law Today

Don’t hesitate to get the legal help you need from an experienced, zealous real estate attorney. Call Feinstein Real Estate Litigation & Business Law today at 954-767-9662 (Fort Lauderdale), 561-981-6212 (Boca Raton,) or 305-728-5267 (Miami).

Legal issues are, naturally, significant factors in the business world. They appear in each element of commerce, from entity formation and the writing of crucial contracts to regulatory requirements, tax problems, and employer-employee interactions. Most professionals expect that the legal  advice they obtain is properly provided and – at the very least – meets established industry standards.

But, what if that counsel doesn’t? What options does a corporate client have when legal advocacy ends up being detrimental to a company’s bottom line instead of beneficial? Here’s what to know.

Legal Malpractice Defined  

In a perfect world, all legal information given to businesses is sound and leads to positive outcomes. However, this doesn’t always occur. Client expectations may not be met when lawyers make mistakes. Business owners  cannot presume that a legal error is inherently actionable.

More has to be done. In order to initiate a suit against a lawyer for inadequate representation, several things should be established:

• A client-attorney relationship existed
• The attorney’s behavior fell below the acknowledged standard of care in the industry or undermined reasonable expectations of competency
• The failure of the lawyer resulted in measurable damages 
• The client arguably would have had a better outcome if the lawyer had performed their duties correctly 

Indicators of Legal Malpractice 

The following behaviors may be indicators of legal malpractice: 

• Your lawyer does not answer emails or phone calls 
• Your lawyer goes long periods without reaching out to you 
• Your attorney doesn’t prepare ahead of time for hearings 
• You were overbilled 
• There’s a conflict of interest 
• Your lawyer misses multiple deadlines due to unexplained circumstances 

How Legal Malpractice Impacts Businesses 

Businesses rely on sound legal advice to make critical decisions that impact their revenue and their relationships with employees and customers. When an attorney fails to meet their contractual obligations, companies can lose time, money, and their reputation. Depending on the egregiousness of the error, the company may be required to pay fines, overhaul their business practices, and more. 

When to Call a Business Litigation Attorney in Florida 

If you suspect that your business lawyer has inadequately represented you, it’s important to meet with experienced litigation counsel as soon as possible. Contact Feinstein Real Estate Litigation & Business Law today by calling our offices at 954-767-9662 (Fort Lauderdale), 561-981-6212 (Boca Raton,) or 305-728-5267 (Miami). 

Our team is available now to answer your questions and schedule an initial consultation to discuss your needs.