Most commercial disputes reach a lawyer late. By then the money has moved, someone has changed the locks, the records are in the other side's possession, and the client's real question is not "do I have a claim" but "what can I do this week." That is the question this practice is built to answer.
Zaarour Law handles business disputes in Wayne County Circuit Court, the surrounding circuit and district courts, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan — on both sides of the caption.
Matters the firm handles
- Owner and partner disputes. Freeze-outs, deadlock, member oppression, disputed capital accounts, and fights over who actually controls the operating agreement.
- Breach of contract. Supply agreements, service contracts, promissory notes, guaranties, and unpaid invoices.
- Fraud and misrepresentation. Claims involving misstated financials, diverted funds, undisclosed liabilities, and deals that were not what they were represented to be.
- Conversion and diverted assets. Business property, inventory, equipment, or receivables taken by a former partner, employee, or vendor.
- Emergency relief. Temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions when a lockout, a transfer, or an account freeze cannot wait for a trial date.
- Judgment collection. Garnishments, discovery of assets, and post-judgment enforcement against parties who treat a judgment as optional.
- Books-and-records demands. Getting an excluded member the financial information the statute and operating agreement entitle them to.
How the first week usually goes
Before anything is filed, the firm looks at four things: the governing documents, the money trail, what relief is actually available, and what it will cost to get there. Sometimes that review produces a complaint. Often it produces a demand letter that resolves the matter for a fraction of litigation cost — and preserves the claim if it does not.
If you have been locked out of a business you own, the timeline is short. Records get cleaned up, accounts get drained, and inventory moves. Call before that happens, not after.
Fees
Fee arrangements depend on the matter. The firm will explain how your matter would be billed, and what it is likely to cost, before any work begins — not after.
Common questions
How long does a business lawsuit take in Michigan?
A Wayne County Circuit Court case that goes to trial commonly runs 12 to 24 months from filing. Most cases settle before that — often at facilitation, which many judges order within the first year. Cases seeking emergency relief move much faster at the outset, with a hearing on a restraining order sometimes occurring within days.
Can I sue my business partner for locking me out?
Usually yes. Depending on the entity and the facts, the claims may include breach of the operating agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, member oppression, conversion, and an accounting. Courts can order access to records, appoint a receiver, or enjoin transfers while the case is pending.
What is the deadline to file a breach of contract claim?
Michigan's general limitations period for breach of a written contract is six years, but shorter periods apply to certain claims, and many commercial contracts shorten the deadline by agreement. Fraud, conversion, and statutory claims run on different clocks. Do not assume you have six years without having the contract reviewed.
Do I need to send a demand letter first?
Not always, but it is often worth it. A well-documented demand costs a fraction of a lawsuit, sometimes resolves the matter outright, and puts you in a better position on attorney fees and interest if it does not.
Speak with the firm about this
Describe the situation and any deadline. The firm responds to time-sensitive matters the same business day.