Fraud & Misrepresentation Claims Attorney

Not every deal that goes wrong is fraud. California fraud requires a false statement (or hidden material fact), knowledge that it was false, intent to deceive, your reasonable reliance, and damages — all five. A souring partnership, a failed investment, or a breach of contract can be costly without rising to fraud. We’ll tell you which claim your facts actually support before you commit to a strategy.

For intentional fraud, yes — you need to show they knew the statement was false (or were recklessly indifferent to its truth) and meant for you to rely on it. But California also recognizes negligent misrepresentation, which doesn’t require intent — only that the other party had no reasonable basis to believe what they were saying. Different claims, different burdens, different evidence.

Generally three years from the date you discovered the fraud, not the date it happened. California’s “discovery rule” can extend that window for fraud claims, but defendants will fight to argue you should have discovered it sooner. The longer you wait, the harder that argument is to beat — talk to an attorney as soon as the pattern becomes clear.

Often, yes. California allows punitive damages in fraud cases where the conduct was malicious, oppressive, or otherwise egregious, on top of your actual losses. You may also be entitled to benefit-of-the-bargain damages (what you would have received if the deal had been as promised), and sometimes attorney’s fees if a statute or contract provides. The numbers in fraud cases can be significantly higher than in routine contract disputes.

Strong fraud cases are built on documentation: emails, contracts, financial statements, recorded representations, and any record of what was said versus what was true. Memory and intuition aren’t enough — but you’d be surprised how much you already have. We start by reviewing what’s in your hands before we ask the court for what isn’t.