Can You Recover Lost Profits in a Breach of Contract Case?

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From a legal standpoint, lost profits are essentially pre-tax profits that a company would have earned if not for the conduct of a defendant. Arizona law permits recovery of lost profits in breach of contract claims; however, establishing lost profits damages can be difficult for both established and new businesses (Arizona is one of a few states that permits recovery of lost damages for new businesses).

Establishing Lost Profits Claims

There are three elements to establishing a claim for lost profits in Arizona:

The fact of damages. A plaintiff must be able to prove that it is “reasonably probable” that profits would have been earned but for the actions of the defendant in breaching the contract.

Causation. A plaintiff must be able to prove that the defendant’s actions directly caused the loss of profits and that the recoverable damages being sought either arose from the breach itself or were reasonably considered by the parties at the time the contract was executed.

Damages amount. A plaintiff must prove that the amount of damages being sought can be proven with “reasonable certainty.” For established businesses, this means providing a reasonable method of computing the net loss. For new businesses, the plaintiff may extrapolate lost profits based on a profit history from a similar business he or she operated in a different location. Recovery is limited to lost net profits, not revenue.

Calculating Lost Profits

Typically, courts have used three methods for calculating lost profits:

Before and after. This method is typically used in cases involving businesses with an established profit history that can be used to calculate lost profits by comparing the company’s profit history before and after a breach.

Yardstick. This method relies on comparing a plaintiff’s business with other companies of a similar nature in a similar industry and relies on the trends of specific markets or industries to show what the plaintiff’s company would have earned but for the damaging event.

Lost market share. This method operates under the assumption that the plaintiff company would have maintained its market share during the breach event.

The bottom line is that an Arizona plaintiff — whether a new or existing business — may recover lost profits in a breach of contract claim, but must have compelling evidence to prove that the company suffered actual damage, that the defendant caused that damage, and that the damages being sought are justifiable.

When contract disputes arise, you need experienced legal representation and advice. Mestaz Law is a law firm focusing on contract law, bet-the-company cases, and business divorce. Contact us at (602) 806-2068 and schedule a time to meet with us today.

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