Contract disputes require more than legal knowledge — they require a clear understanding of what the client actually needs to achieve and the most direct path to that outcome.

Breach of contract is the most frequently litigated civil claim in California. It arises across every sector — from entertainment and media to real estate, professional services, technology and commercial transactions. The legal framework is well-established, but the strategy for each matter is unique and depends heavily on the terms of the agreement, the conduct of the parties, the nature of the damages and the client's priorities.

Eagan Law represents both plaintiffs pursuing contract claims and defendants responding to them. In either posture, the goal is the same — a clear-eyed assessment of the facts and the law, a strategy aligned with the client's actual objectives and efficient execution toward the best available outcome.

Todd Eagan has handled significant contract disputes across the entertainment industry and in complex commercial matters throughout his career, including as a partner at Lavely & Singer, a Los Angeles litigation powerhouse known for sophisticated, high-stakes representation.

NDA breach and confidentiality agreement violations are among the most consequential contract disputes in the entertainment industry — involving sensitive information about deals, projects, personnel and finances. When a confidentiality agreement is breached, speed matters: we move quickly for injunctive relief to prevent further disclosure and pursue damages for harm already caused.

Many entertainment and business contracts contain mandatory arbitration clauses. Arbitration can offer confidentiality and efficiency advantages — but also limitations on discovery and appeal rights that affect strategy. Eagan Law evaluates the arbitration clause at the outset of every engagement, advising whether to invoke arbitration, whether grounds exist to compel or resist it, and how to proceed in either forum.

Where the parties dispute the existence, meaning or enforceability of a contract, declaratory relief — a court judgment establishing the legal relationship between the parties — is often the appropriate first step before damages can be pursued.

Breach of contract claims often arise alongside related causes of action — NDA and confidentiality agreement breaches where disclosure provisions were violated, defamation claims where a party made false statements in connection with a contract dispute, and employment claims where the contract at issue is an employment agreement. In entertainment matters, contract disputes are frequently part of broader entertainment industry litigation.

Written Contract: Four-Year Limitations Period

California's statute of limitations for breach of a written contract is four years from the date of breach (Code of Civil Procedure § 337). For oral contracts, the limitations period is two years. Early action preserves the full range of available remedies.

Both Sides of the Dispute

Eagan Law represents both plaintiffs bringing breach of contract claims and defendants responding to them — providing a full-spectrum understanding of how these matters are evaluated and resolved.

Entertainment Contract Experience

Contract disputes in the entertainment industry involve unique legal considerations — including California Labor Code § 2855, mandatory arbitration clauses and the enforceability of long-term personal service agreements.

Contract Disputes We Handle

01

Entertainment & Media Contracts

Entertainment agreements are among the most heavily negotiated and frequently disputed contracts in any industry. Recording contracts, management agreements, talent agreements, licensing deals and co-production arrangements each carry unique provisions — and disputes over their meaning, performance or enforceability require counsel with specific knowledge of how these agreements work in practice.

  • Recording and label contract disputes
  • Management and talent agency agreement disputes
  • Licensing and royalty agreement disputes
  • Co-production and distribution agreement disputes
  • Personal service contract enforceability (Cal. Lab. Code § 2855)
02

Business & Commercial Contracts

Business contract disputes arise across every commercial sector and can involve any combination of breach, anticipatory repudiation, frustration of purpose, impossibility or failure of consideration. Whether the contract involves the sale of goods, the provision of services, a business acquisition or a long-term commercial relationship, the analysis begins with the precise language of the agreement and the conduct of the parties.

  • Service agreement and vendor contract disputes
  • Business acquisition and asset purchase disputes
  • Partnership and joint venture agreement disputes
  • Non-compete and confidentiality agreement enforcement
  • Distribution and supply agreement disputes
03

Professional Services Contracts

Disputes arising from professional services agreements — including accounting, financial advisory, consulting and other professional engagements — often involve concurrent breach of contract and professional malpractice claims. Eagan Law has handled professional services disputes at a high level, including representation of Nicolas Cage in a matter involving claims of accounting malpractice.

  • Accounting and financial advisory disputes
  • Management and consulting agreement disputes
  • Professional malpractice claims arising from contract
  • Fee disputes and engagement agreement enforcement
  • Breach of fiduciary duty alongside contract claims
04

Implied Covenant & Good Faith Claims

Every contract in California contains an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing — an obligation that neither party will act to deprive the other of the benefits of the agreement. Breach of the implied covenant is a separate and independent claim that may be pursued alongside breach of contract, and in certain contexts it can support additional remedies beyond those available for the contract claim alone.

  • Implied covenant claims in commercial contracts
  • Bad faith insurance claims
  • Fiduciary duty claims in contractual relationships
  • Unfair business practices alongside contract claims
  • Fraudulent inducement and misrepresentation

Elements of a Breach of Contract Claim

To prevail on a breach of contract claim in California, a plaintiff must establish each of the following elements by a preponderance of the evidence.

01
Existence of a Contract

A valid contract requires offer, acceptance, consideration and mutual assent. Written, oral and implied contracts may all be enforceable — though some must be in writing under California's Statute of Frauds.

02
Plaintiff's Performance

The plaintiff must have performed their obligations under the contract — or have a legally valid excuse for nonperformance, such as the defendant's prior material breach or frustration of purpose.

03
Defendant's Breach

The defendant must have failed to perform a contractual obligation — whether by act, omission or anticipatory repudiation. Not every deviation constitutes a material breach; the significance of the breach affects available remedies.

04
Resulting Damages

The plaintiff must show they suffered damages as a result of the breach. California contract damages generally aim to place the non-breaching party in the position they would have occupied had the contract been performed.

Strategic Counsel in Contract Disputes

Contract disputes are rarely just about the contract. They involve business relationships, reputations and practical realities that go well beyond the legal issues. Eagan Law brings a complete picture to every engagement.

1

Entertainment Contract Experience

Eagan Law has handled contract disputes at the highest levels of the entertainment industry — including matters involving major artists, public figures and significant commercial interests — providing deep familiarity with how these agreements are written, interpreted and disputed.

2

Both Sides of the Table

Having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in contract disputes, Eagan Law brings a full understanding of how the opposing side will evaluate and pursue its position — and how best to respond to it.

3

Strategy Aligned with Your Goals

The legally available outcome and the practically desirable outcome in a contract dispute are not always the same. Todd Eagan takes time to understand what the client actually needs — and builds a strategy around that, not around the path of least resistance.

4

Personal Involvement at Every Stage

Todd Eagan is personally involved in every matter at the firm — from the initial assessment of the contract and the dispute through final resolution. Clients work directly with the attorney handling their matter throughout the engagement.

Breach of Contract Law in California

California contract law is governed primarily by the California Civil Code, which sets out the requirements for contract formation (Civil Code §§ 1549–1701), the rules of contract interpretation (Civil Code §§ 1635–1663) and the remedies available for breach (Civil Code §§ 3300–3360). California courts follow the objective theory of contract interpretation — meaning that the meaning of a contract is determined by what a reasonable person would understand the language to mean, not by what either party subjectively intended.

The parol evidence rule (Code of Civil Procedure § 1856) generally limits a party's ability to introduce extrinsic evidence to contradict or add to the terms of a written contract — but California courts have recognized significant exceptions, including evidence offered to explain ambiguous terms or to show that the written agreement does not reflect the parties' actual agreement.

Statutes of Limitations: Four years for written contracts (CCP § 337) and two years for oral contracts (CCP § 339), running from the date of breach. Anticipatory repudiation — a party's express refusal to perform before performance is due — may accelerate the limitations period. Early consultation preserves the full range of available remedies.

California's Statute of Frauds (Civil Code § 1624) requires certain contracts to be in writing to be enforceable — including agreements that cannot be performed within one year, contracts for the sale of real property and, in the entertainment context, certain personal service agreements and agreements governed by the talent agency statutes. The enforceability of oral agreements in the entertainment industry is a frequently litigated question that depends heavily on the specific facts and the applicable statutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the elements of a breach of contract claim in California?

To establish a breach of contract claim in California, a plaintiff must prove four elements: (1) the existence of a valid contract; (2) the plaintiff's performance of their obligations or a legally valid excuse for nonperformance; (3) the defendant's breach of the contract; and (4) resulting damages. Each element must be established by a preponderance of the evidence — meaning it is more likely true than not.

How long do I have to bring a breach of contract claim in California?

California's statute of limitations for breach of a written contract is four years from the date of the breach (Code of Civil Procedure § 337). For oral contracts, the limitations period is two years (Code of Civil Procedure § 339). The clock generally begins running on the date of the breach — not the date the plaintiff discovers it, though the discovery rule may apply in limited circumstances. Where one party has repudiated the contract before performance is due, the limitations period may begin to run from the date of that repudiation.

What damages are available for breach of contract in California?

California contract damages are generally limited to those that place the non-breaching party in the position they would have been in had the contract been performed — known as expectation or benefit-of-the-bargain damages. This includes direct damages, consequential damages that were reasonably foreseeable at the time of contracting and, in some cases, incidental damages. Punitive damages are generally not available for breach of contract in California unless the breach also constitutes an independent tort — such as fraud or breach of fiduciary duty.

Does a contract need to be in writing to be enforceable in California?

Not always. Many contracts are fully enforceable in California without a written agreement. However, California's Statute of Frauds (Civil Code § 1624) requires certain contracts to be in writing — including agreements that cannot be performed within one year, contracts for the sale of real property and certain entertainment industry agreements. The enforceability of an oral contract is often a central issue in entertainment and business disputes, and the analysis depends heavily on the specific facts and the nature of the agreement.

What is the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing?

Every contract in California contains an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing — an obligation that neither party will act to deprive the other of the benefits of the agreement. Breach of the implied covenant is an independent claim that may be pursued alongside a breach of contract claim. In commercial contracts it is a more limited doctrine, but in appropriate cases — particularly those involving unequal bargaining power or opportunistic conduct — it can be a significant additional basis for relief.

Discuss Your Matter

Contract disputes move on deadlines. Early counsel preserves your options. All consultations are completely confidential.

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