Chicago, IL commercial litigation attorney Patrick D. Austermuehle talks about a memorable case involving a doctor who was cheated out of sweat equity in a medical practice. He says that in one case, they represented a physician who was part of a small, closely held business with several other physician partners. While the business was still in its building phase and getting started, his business partners essentially froze him out—they no longer wanted him to be part of the business.

It was a complicated dispute because, unlike some of the other partners, his contributions to the business had come in the form of sweat equity. In other words, he devoted his time and expertise to the business instead of making an actual cash contribution.

They brought the case to arbitration and had to prove how much that sweat equity was worth. Ultimately, they succeeded, recovering every nickel on behalf of the client. While the business was dissolved as part of the process, they won the trial, and he recovered all his damages. The client was thrilled with the outcome.