Six Pain Points We Solve
Custom-printed corrugated written off
Customer logo makes the inventory unresalable. §2709(1)(b) action for the price is the right remedy — most shops plead the wrong count.
Large POs, small margins
A single unpaid $80K run can wipe out a quarter's operating profit. Aggressive 30-day demand is essential.
Seasonal fulfillment customers
Holiday packaging orders invoiced Q4, stretched to Q2 of the following year. Statute and interest preservation matter.
3PL and co-packer disputes
Bill-to / ship-to splits create "not my debt" defenses. Joint-and-several guaranty clauses and §2709 identification protect the seller.
Contract-packaging service fees
Fulfillment, kitting, and co-pack labor charges often disputed separately from goods. Account-stated count ties them together.
Credit application personal guarantees
Most PGs are poorly drafted — missing §2787 language, waivers, or attorney's-fees. We analyze and enforce what's there.
California Legal Framework
| Authority | Application |
|---|---|
| Cal. Com. Code §2709(1)(b) | Action for the price on goods identified to the contract (custom-printed corrugated, co-branded packaging). |
| Cal. Com. Code §2709(1)(a) | Action for the price on goods accepted by the buyer. |
| Cal. Com. Code §2706 | Seller's right to resell and recover the difference, plus §2710 incidentals. |
| Cal. Com. Code §2710 | Incidental damages — storage, transportation, commissions on resale. |
| Cal. CCP §337 | 4-year statute for written contracts, account stated, open book account. |
| UCC Article 9 / §9509 | UCC-1 filings on inventory and proceeds when PMSI is timely perfected. |
| Cal. Civ. Code §1717 | Bilateral attorney's-fees enforceability. |
| Cal. Civ. Code §§3287, 3289 | 10% prejudgment interest on liquidated sums. |
| Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §17200 | UCL overlay for pattern non-payment schemes. |
Estimate Your Recovery at 15% Contingency
Three Anonymized California Case Studies
Custom-printed corrugated — Orange County CPG brand
9 SKUs with client logos, written off by shop. §2709(1)(b) plead with artwork approvals and delivery confirmations; settled at Day 18 for full invoice plus interest.
Stretch film + pallet wrap — Inland Empire 3PL
3PL collapsed ship-to/bill-to after dispute with upstream shipper. Joint-and-several guaranty on credit app + §2709(1)(a) count resolved at Day 23.
Protective foam + inserts — LA medical device maker
Customer disputed co-pack labor charges. Account-stated + §2709 + §1717 complaint drafted; paid at Day 16 pre-filing email.
Documentation Checklist
- Credit application with terms, personal guaranty, and bilateral fees clause.
- Signed POs or online-order accept logs (IP + timestamp).
- Artwork approvals for custom-printed runs (email or DocuSign).
- Delivery confirmations / BOLs.
- Invoices and collections ledger.
- Prior dispute correspondence, if any.
- UCC-1 filing printout, if applicable.
Fee Math — Contingency Advantage
| Recovery amount | Traditional (33%) | LegalCollects (15%) | Client savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $8,250 | $3,750 | $4,500 |
| $75,000 | $24,750 | $11,250 | $13,500 |
| $142,000 | $46,860 | $21,300 | $25,560 |
| $300,000 | $99,000 | $45,000 | $54,000 |
| $500,000 | $165,000 | $75,000 | $90,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does recovery take?
Our 30-day demand and escalation sequence resolves the majority of matters before Day 25 filing. Custom-printed corrugated cases with clean §2709(1)(b) pleadings often resolve at the Day 16 pre-filing email.
Do you work on stretch film and commodity packaging?
Yes. Commodity items go under §2709(1)(a) if accepted, or §2706 resale differential if returned. Either way it's a straightforward contract count.
What if the customer disputes the artwork approval?
Email chains, DocuSign audit trails, and print-setup records generally dispose of the artwork defense. §2606 acceptance further strengthens the seller's position once goods ship.
Do you file UCC-1s for us?
Not directly, but we coordinate with your counsel on PMSI timing. A timely UCC-1 dramatically improves outcomes if the customer is heading to insolvency.
What's the minimum claim size?
Most packaging claims we take are $10K+. Under that, small claims court is often more cost-effective for the distributor.