Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLPGaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLP2026-06-30T11:40:09Zhttps://www.eghlaw.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1403828/2023/02/cropped-divider-blu-1-32x32.pngOn Behalf of Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLP<![CDATA[4 Red flags to look for before signing a business contract]]>https://www.eghlaw.com/?p=510472026-06-30T11:40:09Z2026-06-30T11:40:09Z1. Vague or undefined terms
Contracts that leave scope, payment, responsibilities, or what happens when something goes wrong unclear or unaddressed invite disagreement later. Phrases like "reasonable efforts" or "timely delivery" feel harmless until you and the other party interpret them differently. North Carolina courts generally apply contract terms based on their plain, ordinary meaning when the agreement is unambiguous.
If a term is unclear, courts will look beyond the literal words to figure out what both parties actually intended. Before you sign, the key terms should be specific enough that you and the other party would describe them the same way.
2. One-sided risk and liability provisions
Indemnification and liability clauses determine who pays when something goes wrong. In a balanced contract, both parties cover their own mistakes. Watch for clauses that only run one way, where you are responsible for the other party's errors but their liability to you is capped at a fraction of what you could lose.
3. Termination terms that only protect the other side
Watch for contracts that let the other party walk away on short notice while making it slow, costly, or nearly impossible for you to do the same. Automatic renewal clauses are a related trap, since an agreement that renews unless you cancel within a narrow window can quietly lock you into a commitment you would rather exit.
A fair contract gives both parties reasonably equal termination rights, clear notice periods and a clear picture of what happens to payments and obligations once the relationship ends.
4. Dispute resolution and forum clauses that favor the other party
Choice of law and forum selection clauses determine which state's laws apply and where a dispute gets resolved. If your business is in North Carolina but a contract requires disputes to go to court in another state, you could be looking at added travel, unfamiliar procedures and the cost of hiring out-of-state counsel.
North Carolina law generally voids these out-of-state requirements for contracts entered into within the state, with a few narrow exceptions. Still, pushing for North Carolina law and a North Carolina forum from the start is a reasonable request. If the other party resists, that resistance is worth paying attention to.
Why a careful review matters
Most of these red flags are easier to catch before signing than to fix afterward. A short legal review up front is almost always less expensive than untangling a dispute later, particularly for agreements that are high-value, long-term or unusually complex. If a clause in your contract feels uncertain or unfair, it is worth having an attorney take a closer look before you sign.
]]>by Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLP<![CDATA[GHTH Welcomes Mikhail Harris as a 2026 Summer Associate]]>https://www.eghlaw.com/?p=510122026-06-01T19:57:16Z2026-06-01T19:57:16Zby Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLP<![CDATA[Five GHTH Attorneys Recognized on 2026 Super Lawyers List]]>https://www.eghlaw.com/?p=509952026-02-25T14:35:51Z2026-02-25T14:35:51ZSuper Lawyers List.
Michael Byrne (Business Litigation)
Ed Gaskins (Business Litigation)
James Hash (Business Litigation)
Bill Kroll (Bankruptcy)
Jason Tuttle (Personal Injury)
Senior partner Ed Gaskins was recognized by Super Lawyers for the eighteenth consecutive year, while James Hash was included on the North Carolina “Top 100” list for the third consecutive year.
No more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to Super Lawyers to receive this recognition. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of lawyers from more than 70 practice area selections based on a multi-phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers magazines and in city and regional magazines across the county.]]>by Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLP<![CDATA[Three Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash Partners Recognized in Business North Carolina’s 2026 Legal Elite]]>https://www.eghlaw.com/?p=509562026-06-09T11:28:14Z2026-01-08T20:04:24ZJames Hash is recognized in the field of Litigation. James' practice primarily focuses on business and estate litigation.
William "Bill" Kroll is recognized in the field of Bankruptcy. Bill is a board-certified specialist in business bankruptcy law and consumer bankruptcy law.
Michael J. Byrne of Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash, formerly of Byrne Law, is in the Business North Carolina Legal Elite Hall of Fame for Litigation.]]>by Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLP<![CDATA[GHTH is Proud to Have Three Lawyers Recognized in 2026 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America®]]>https://www.eghlaw.com/?p=509462025-09-18T14:10:35Z2025-08-21T14:10:02ZThe Best Lawyers in America ® 2026 in the practices of appellate practice, commercial litigation and construction litigation. Ed has received recognition from Best Lawyers each year since 2001.
James Hash has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 in the practice of construction litigation. James has received recognition from Best Lawyers each year since 2018.
Jason Tuttle has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 in the practice of personal injury litigation.]]>by Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLP<![CDATA[GHTH Attorney Jason Tuttle Featured in Wake Bar Flyer with Article on Lance Fife]]>https://www.eghlaw.com/?p=508362025-06-05T20:23:22Z2025-06-05T20:06:54ZWake Bar Flyer. In his piece, "A Dream Come True: Father and Son Share the WCBA Court", Jason discusses fellow Wake County Bar Member Lance Fife and his involvement in the WCBA Basketball League. Jason tells the story of Lance and his son, Josh, who were drafted to the same team on the WCBA League.
Thank you Jason for sharing their story. You can read the full article on pg. 12 here.]]>by Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLP<![CDATA[GHTH Welcomes Summer Associate Jason Thomas II]]>https://www.eghlaw.com/?p=508312025-06-05T20:14:37Z2025-05-12T17:24:10ZOn Behalf of Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLP<![CDATA[Do breach of contract disputes typically go to trial?]]>https://www.eghlaw.com/?p=507962025-04-16T16:14:34Z2025-04-16T16:14:34ZMany business lawsuits settle
When there are disagreements about contractual obligations that lead to litigation, the parties involved in the disagreement may be able to settle the matter amicably. In some cases, service with documents for a pending lawsuit may inspire the party in breach of the contract to communicate about the issue and take steps to resolve it.
They might explain why there have been delays in contract fulfillment or even propose alternative dispute resolution as a means of discussing and settling the issue. Avoiding litigation can be a strong motivator. A pending lawsuit can be expensive for both parties involved in a disagreement.
Should the lawsuit go to trial, it could potentially damage the reputation of the party in breach of the agreement. Information about the matter becomes public record, meaning that other businesses or professionals might discover the issue before agreeing to do business with a service provider or supplier who breached an agreement.
A large number of pending contract disputes end up settled before a trial becomes necessary. However, if the matter does go before a judge, the courts can offer several forms of relief for the plaintiff. Taking a contract dispute to trial can lead to contract enforcement or rescission. The plaintiff may be able to enforce penalty clauses or request damages for the harm caused by the contract breach.
Taking immediate action to address contract breaches through communication, formal notices and legal filings can help those running businesses control their costs and hold other parties accountable for failing to follow through on their promises. A breach of contract lawsuit may lead to an amicable resolution or the courts intervening on behalf of the plaintiff.]]>by Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLP<![CDATA[Five GHTH Attorneys Recognized on 2025 Super Lawyers List]]>https://www.eghlaw.com/?p=507742025-03-05T14:36:47Z2025-03-05T14:36:47ZSuper Lawyers List.
Michael Byrne (Business Litigation)
Ed Gaskins (Business Litigation)
James Hash (Business Litigation)
Bill Kroll (Bankruptcy)
Jason Tuttle (Personal Injury)
Senior partner Ed Gaskins was recognized by Super Lawyers for the seventeenth consecutive year, while James Hash was included on the North Carolina “Top 100” list for the second consecutive year.
No more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of lawyers from more than 70 practice area selections based on a multi-phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers magazines and in leading city and regional magazines across the county.]]>by Gaskins Hancock Tuttle Hash LLP<![CDATA[Three Everett Gaskins Partners Recognized in Business North Carolina’s 2025 Legal ELite]]>https://www.eghlaw.com/?p=507402025-06-06T07:05:17Z2025-01-09T21:34:55Z