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Civil Litigation

The beauty of the American legal system is that our laws and regulations provide avenues to redress wrongs. At The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC, we believe in American justice, fairness, and integrity. Whether it is a breach of contract, a personal injury, an infringement of intellectual property rights, or a complex commercial dispute, we are passionately dedicated to serving our clients in pursuit of the appropriate remedy — to right that wrong or defend that right.


Knowing the law is one thing. Enforcing it is another. The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC has extensive experience in civil litigation — from small claims wage disputes to multi-million dollar complex litigation involving publicly traded companies. Managing Attorney Richard P. Corey is not simply a litigator. He is a trial attorney. Many attorneys market themselves as litigators. Richard P. Corey takes cases all the way to the jury when that is what it takes to achieve the right result. That willingness to try a case is precisely what gives our clients the leverage to achieve favorable outcomes at every stage of the litigation process.


The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC has been recognized as a top Florida Business Litigation Firm in Super Lawyers Rising Stars for three consecutive years. Our attorneys are licensed in both Florida state courts statewide and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Contact us at (954) 789-0461 or legal@rcenterpriselaw.com to schedule a consultation with a Fort Lauderdale civil litigation lawyer today.

Judge Writing

Civil Litigation Attorney Fort Lauderdale

What Is Civil Litigation?

Civil litigation is the process by which disputes between private parties — individuals, businesses, or organizations — are resolved through the court system. Unlike criminal proceedings, where the government prosecutes a defendant for a crime, civil litigation involves one party seeking a legal remedy from another, typically in the form of monetary damages, injunctive relief, or specific performance.


In Florida, civil litigation is governed by the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, the Florida Evidence Code, and a comprehensive body of substantive law covering contracts, torts, property, business, employment, and more. A civil litigation matter moves through a defined process: pleadings, discovery, pre-trial motions, trial, and — if necessary — appeal. Each stage requires strategic legal judgment, precise procedural execution, and the ability to anticipate and counter the opposing party's moves.


The United States Constitution provides an avenue for justice through the court system, and The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC takes pride in our attorneys' position as officers of that court. When the time comes for litigation, it is our job to represent you and your rights with the full force of our experience, knowledge, and commitment.

Civil Litigation Services in Fort Lauderdale and South Florida

The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC represents individuals, businesses, and entrepreneurs in civil litigation throughout:

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  • Commercial & Business Litigation

  • Partnership & Shareholder Disputes

  • Breach of Contract

  • Trade Secret Misappropriation 

  • Fraud & FDUPTA Claims 

  • Real Estate Litigation

  • Construction Litigation

  • Labor & Employment Disputes

  • Securities Litigation

  • Banking & Finance Litigation

  • Product Liability 

  • Personal Injury

  • Arbitration & Mediation

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Serving: Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Miami, Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County, and all of Florida

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We handle civil litigation matters in Florida state courts statewide and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Commercial & Business Litigation

Commercial litigation is a broad term used to describe virtually every potential dispute in the world of business enterprise. This includes partnership disputes, breach of contract actions, trade secret misappropriation, fraud claims, business tort claims, shareholder disputes, and unfair business practice claims. Richard P. Corey has litigated commercial cases all over the State of Florida. We know how to read between the lines and take the most effective plan of action for obtaining the most desirable result in any commercial dispute.


At The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC, we represent businesses and entrepreneurs in commercial litigation matters from pre-suit demand through trial and, where necessary, appeal. Our approach to every commercial dispute is trial-ready from day one — which is precisely what gives our clients maximum leverage in settlement negotiations and the confidence to proceed to verdict when a fair resolution cannot be reached.

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Partnership disputes, breach of contract, shareholder disputes, LLC member disputes, trade secret misappropriation, fraud, and business divorce. Our firm handles the full spectrum of commercial disputes with the strategic precision that complex litigation demands.

Breach of Contract

When another party fails to honor their contractual obligations, the financial consequences can be immediate and severe. Florida law provides a clear framework for breach of contract claims, requiring the plaintiff to establish the existence of a valid contract, a material breach, the plaintiff's own performance, and resulting damages. The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC represents both plaintiffs pursuing breach of contract claims and defendants defending against them throughout South Florida.

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Our civil litigation lawyers have handled breach of contract disputes across virtually every category of commercial relationship — vendor contracts, service agreements, partnership agreements, joint venture agreements, real estate contracts, employment agreements, and loan agreements. We pursue maximum recovery for clients whose contracts have been breached and mount strategic, comprehensive defenses for clients facing contract claims.

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The damages available in a Florida breach of contract action depend on the nature of the breach and the terms of the agreement. Expectation damages — designed to put the non-breaching party in the position they would have been in had the contract been performed — are the primary remedy, and include lost profits, direct economic losses, and foreseeable consequential damages. Where the contract contains an attorney's fees provision, the prevailing party may also recover fees under Section 57.105, Florida Statutes — a significant consideration that fundamentally changes the economics of pursuing or defending a breach of contract claim. The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC analyzes the full damages picture from the outset of every contract dispute to ensure our clients understand their complete exposure and recovery potential before a single pleading is filed.

Contractual Disputes and Business Fraud

Not every contract dispute is a simple breach. Many of the most complex and high-stakes commercial litigation matters involve fraudulent inducement — where a party was induced to enter a contract through misrepresentation or concealment of material facts — or fraud in the performance of a contract. Florida law provides robust remedies for business fraud, including compensatory damages, punitive damages in appropriate cases, and civil theft remedies under Florida Statute Section 772.11, which provides for treble damages.


The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC has active litigation experience in complex fraud matters involving joint venture agreements, business acquisitions, and commercial real estate transactions. We represent clients in fraudulent inducement claims, civil theft actions, and FDUTPA claims under Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Section 501.201, Florida Statutes.

Partnership Disputes

Partnership disputes are among the most consequential and emotionally charged matters in civil litigation. When business partners disagree over management decisions, profit distributions, capital contributions, or the direction of the business — or when one partner breaches their fiduciary duties to the other — the business itself is at risk. Florida law imposes fiduciary duties on partners under the Florida Revised Uniform Partnership Act (Chapter 620, Florida Statutes), and violations of those duties give rise to claims for damages, accounting, and in some cases dissolution.


Our civil litigation attorneys represent partners in disputes involving breach of partnership agreement, breach of fiduciary duty, minority oppression, wrongful exclusion, and business dissolution throughout Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and Palm Beach County. Time is critical in partnership disputes — the longer a dispute goes unaddressed, the greater the risk of asset dissipation, business disruption, and irreparable damage to the enterprise. We move quickly to assess your position, identify available remedies, and take decisive legal action to protect your interests.

Real Estate Disputes

The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC handles all types of real estate disputes. Whether it is an eviction action, a breach of a sales contract, a commercial lease dispute, a zoning controversy, or a construction defect claim, we are here to represent you and your rights throughout the entire litigation process — including trial. Florida real estate litigation involves a complex interplay of contract law, property law, and statutory remedies that requires experienced legal counsel to navigate effectively.


Florida's landlord-tenant law, governed by Chapter 83, Florida Statutes, provides specific procedural requirements for eviction actions and lease dispute resolution that must be followed precisely to protect your rights. Similarly, disputes involving real estate purchase and sale contracts trigger specific statutory remedies including specific performance, deposit forfeiture, and damages claims that require experienced civil litigation counsel. We represent landlords and tenants, buyers and sellers, developers and property owners in real estate litigation throughout South Florida.

Intellectual Property Disputes

Intellectual property disputes — including trademark infringement, copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and licensing agreement breaches — require civil litigators who understand both the substantive law of intellectual property and the procedural demands of federal and state court litigation. The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC represents clients in IP disputes in both Florida state courts and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.


When your brand, creative work, proprietary technology, or trade secrets are being infringed upon or misappropriated, swift and decisive legal action is essential. We pursue injunctive relief, damages, and attorneys' fees on behalf of IP rights holders, and we defend clients against IP claims that are overbroad or without merit. Florida's Uniform Trade Secrets Act, Section 688.001, Florida Statutes, provides strong protections for businesses whose confidential information has been misappropriated — and we enforce those protections aggressively.

Labor and Employment Disputes

Employment relationships generate some of the most frequent and consequential civil litigation in Florida. The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC represents employers and employees in disputes involving breach of employment agreements, non-compete and non-solicitation agreement enforcement and defense under Florida Statute Section 542.335, wage disputes, and wrongful termination claims. We bring the same trial-ready approach to employment litigation that we apply to every practice area — prepared to litigate through verdict when necessary to achieve the right result for our clients.

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Florida's non-compete statute is among the most employer-friendly in the nation, but enforcement requires satisfying specific legal requirements regarding legitimate business interests, duration, and geographic scope. Whether you are an employer seeking to enforce a restrictive covenant against a former employee or an individual defending against an overreaching non-compete claim, our civil litigation lawyers analyze every dimension of your position and build the most strategic case available.

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Wage and hour disputes — including claims under the Florida Minimum Wage Act and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) — represent a significant and growing category of employment litigation in South Florida. Employers face exposure for unpaid overtime, misclassification of employees as independent contractors, and failure to pay the applicable minimum wage, with liquidated damages provisions that can double the amount owed. Wrongful termination claims, including retaliatory discharge and breach of implied employment contracts, require careful analysis of the specific facts and applicable legal theories. The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC represents both employers and employees in wage disputes and wrongful termination matters throughout Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and Palm Beach County.

Personal Injury and Negligence

When a person is injured as a result of another party's negligence, the civil litigation system provides the mechanism for recovery. The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC represents personal injury clients in negligence actions, product liability claims, premises liability cases, and other tort claims throughout South Florida. Florida's modified comparative fault framework, governed by Section 768.81, Florida Statutes, requires sophisticated legal analysis to maximize recovery — particularly following Florida's 2023 tort reform legislation which introduced significant changes to negligence standards and fee-shifting provisions.


Damages available in Florida personal injury matters include economic damages — medical expenses, lost wages, and future earning capacity — as well as non-economic damages for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress. Our civil litigation attorneys evaluate every available category of damages from the outset and build cases designed to achieve maximum recovery for injured clients throughout Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and Palm Beach County.

Construction Litigation

Construction disputes in South Florida involve complex overlapping claims between property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals. Delays, defective workmanship, payment disputes, mechanic's lien claims under Chapter 713, Florida Statutes, and construction contract breaches generate significant litigation in Florida courts. Mechanic's lien claims in particular carry strict notice and timing requirements that can extinguish your rights entirely if not followed precisely.


Our civil litigation lawyers represent all parties in construction disputes throughout Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and Palm Beach County — from pre-lien notices and lien enforcement through complex multi-party construction litigation in both state and federal court. We understand the technical and contractual dimensions of construction disputes and bring the same trial-ready preparation to these matters that we apply across every area of our civil litigation practice.

Why Choose The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC as Your Civil Litigation Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale?

There is a meaningful difference between an attorney who litigates and a trial attorney. Many civil litigation lawyers resolve every matter before trial — not because trial is unnecessary, but because they are not prepared to try the case. Richard P. Corey prepares every matter as if it will go to verdict from the moment the file is opened. That preparation is visible to opposing counsel, and it changes the trajectory of every negotiation.

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Richard P. Corey has handled civil litigation matters ranging from small claims disputes to multi-million dollar complex litigation involving publicly traded companies, across Florida state courts and federal courts. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in civil litigation and business law for three consecutive years — a distinction awarded to fewer than 2.5% of attorneys in Florida — and has been featured in USA Today, Yahoo News, and Influencive. He is a Member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States and is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

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Our firm is boutique by design. Every client receives direct, senior-level attention. When you hire The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC, you work directly with Richard — not a junior associate who has never tried a case. That consistency of counsel matters in litigation. Your attorney knows your case from the first call to the final verdict — every fact, every witness, every strategic decision made along the way. There is no handoff, no learning curve, and no associate appearing at a hearing without the full context of your matter. That is the boutique model, and it is the standard every client of The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC receives.

Schedule a Consultation With a Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorney

If you are facing a civil dispute in South Florida — whether you are the party whose rights were violated or the party defending against a claim — contact The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC today. The sooner you have an experienced civil litigation lawyer in your corner, the stronger your position will be.


The Law Offices of Richard Corey, PLLC
915 Middle River Drive, Suite 408
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Phone: (954) 789-0461
Email: legal@rcenterpriselaw.com
Website: rcenterpriselaw.com

Related Practice Areas

If your matter involves business formation, contracts, or corporate governance, our business law practice may also be relevant to your needs. For complex corporate disputes involving shareholders or executives, visit our corporate law services.

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