UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE [___] DISTRICT OF [STATE]
________
[PLAINTIFF NAME],
Plaintiff,
v. Civil Action No. [______]
[DEFENDANT NAME],
Defendant.
________
COMPLAINT FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT
(Injunctive Relief Requested Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 65)
[// GUIDANCE: Replace every bracketed, bolded placeholder before filing. Remove all GUIDANCE comments.]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction ..................................................................................... 2
- Parties ............................................................................................ 2
- Jurisdiction and Venue .................................................................... 3
- Factual Background ........................................................................ 4
4.1 The Contract ............................................................................... 4
4.2 Plaintiff’s Performance ............................................................... 5
4.3 Defendant’s Breach ..................................................................... 5
4.4 Resulting Harm ........................................................................... 6 - Cause of Action – Breach of Contract ............................................ 6
- Prayer for Relief .............................................................................. 7
- Demand for Jury Trial (Optional) ..................................................... 8
- Certification of Counsel (Fed. R. Civ. P. 11) .................................... 8
- Signature Block ............................................................................... 9
- Verification (if required by local rule)............................................... 9
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Plaintiff [Plaintiff Name] (“Plaintiff”) brings this action against [Defendant Name] (“Defendant”) for damages and injunctive relief arising out of Defendant’s material breach of the written [Contract Title] dated [Effective Date] (the “Contract”).
1.2 Plaintiff fully performed—or was excused from performing—all conditions precedent. Defendant’s continuing breach has caused and will continue to cause irreparable and compensable harm to Plaintiff.
2. PARTIES
2.1 Plaintiff [Plaintiff Name] is a [State of Incorporation] [corporation/LLC/etc.] with its principal place of business at [Address].
2.2 Defendant [Defendant Name] is a [State of Incorporation/Organization] [corporation/LLC/etc.] with its principal place of business at [Address] and may be served through its registered agent, [Agent Name & Address].
[// GUIDANCE: For individual defendants, include citizenship and residence; for entities, include principal place of business to support diversity.]
3. JURISDICTION AND VENUE
3.1 Subject-Matter Jurisdiction.
a. Diversity Jurisdiction – 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a): Plaintiff is a citizen of [State] and Defendant is a citizen of [Different State]; the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs.
OR
b. Federal Question Jurisdiction – 28 U.S.C. § 1331: [Specify federal statute if breach implicates federal law, if any].
3.2 Personal Jurisdiction. Defendant transacts business in this District and purposefully availed itself of its laws by entering into and performing the Contract herein at issue.
3.3 Venue is proper in this District under 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) because [choose one]:
a. a substantial part of the events or omissions giving rise to these claims occurred in this District; or
b. the property that is the subject of the action is situated in this District; or
c. Defendant resides in this District and is subject to the court’s personal jurisdiction.
3.4 Injunctive Authority. This Court is empowered to grant preliminary and permanent injunctive relief pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 65 and its inherent equitable powers.
4. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
4.1 The Contract
4.1.1 On [Date], Plaintiff and Defendant executed the Contract, a true and correct copy of which is attached as Exhibit A.
4.1.2 Under the Contract, Defendant agreed to [summarize key obligations] in exchange for Plaintiff’s payment/performance of [consideration].
4.2 Plaintiff’s Performance
4.2.1 Plaintiff duly performed, tendered performance, or was excused from performing all obligations required under the Contract, including but not limited to:
a. [List performances/payments]
b. [List additional obligations]
4.3 Defendant’s Breach
4.3.1 Beginning on or about [Date], Defendant failed to [specific breach, e.g., deliver goods, render services, make payment] as required by Section [__] of the Contract.
4.3.2 Plaintiff provided written notice of default on [Date] pursuant to Section [__] of the Contract; Defendant failed to cure within the agreed [__-day] cure period.
4.4 Resulting Harm
4.4.1 As a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s breach, Plaintiff has suffered damages exceeding [monetary amount], including [lost profits, cover costs, diminution in value, etc.].
4.4.2 Defendant’s ongoing breach threatens imminent and irreparable injury to Plaintiff’s goodwill and contractual rights that cannot be adequately compensated by money damages alone.
5. CAUSE OF ACTION – BREACH OF CONTRACT
5.1 Plaintiff incorporates by reference Paragraphs 1.1 through 4.4.2 as though fully set forth herein.
5.2 Valid Contract. The Contract is a valid, enforceable agreement supported by adequate consideration.
5.3 Plaintiff’s Performance. Plaintiff has performed all material obligations, conditions, and covenants required of it under the Contract or has been excused from further performance.
5.4 Defendant’s Breach. Defendant materially breached the Contract by [specific breach].
5.5 Damages. Plaintiff has sustained, and will continue to sustain, actual damages in an amount to be proven at trial but not less than [amount].
5.6 Injunctive Relief. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 65, Plaintiff seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining Defendant from [proscribed conduct] and compelling specific performance of [particular obligations].
6. PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that the Court enter judgment in its favor and against Defendant as follows:
a. Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial, plus pre- and post-judgment interest as allowed by law;
b. An order preliminarily and permanently enjoining Defendant from [describe injunction];
c. Specific performance directing Defendant to [describe performance];
d. Incidental and consequential damages pursuant to applicable law;
e. Reasonable attorney’s fees and costs as permitted by the Contract or applicable statute;
f. Such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.
7. DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL (OPTIONAL)
Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b), Plaintiff demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable.
[// GUIDANCE: Omit this section if the Contract contains an enforceable jury-trial waiver.]
8. CERTIFICATION OF COUNSEL (Fed. R. Civ. P. 11)
The undersigned counsel certifies that, to the best of counsel’s knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances, the claims and other legal contentions herein are warranted by existing law or by a non-frivolous argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law; the factual contentions have evidentiary support; and the complaint is not filed for any improper purpose.
9. SIGNATURE BLOCK
Respectfully submitted,
text
Dated: [_] [LAW FIRM NAME]
By: /s/ [Attorney Name]___
[Attorney Name] (Bar No. [_])
[Address]
[City, State, Zip]
Telephone: []
Email: []
Counsel for Plaintiff
10. VERIFICATION (if required by local rule)
I, [Name], hereby declare under penalty of perjury that I am the [title] of Plaintiff [Plaintiff Name]; that I have read the foregoing Complaint and know the contents thereof; and that the same is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.
text
Executed on [Date], at [City, State]. ______
[Name], [Title]
[// GUIDANCE:
1. Attach the Contract as Exhibit A and any relevant notices or correspondence as additional exhibits.
2. Check local rules for formatting requirements (e.g., font, margins, exhibit tabs, civil cover sheet, summons).
3. Consider whether a temporary restraining order (TRO) is necessary before a preliminary injunction and draft separate papers accordingly.
4. Confirm that subject-matter jurisdiction is adequately pleaded (diversity vs. federal question).
5. If attorneys’ fees are sought, verify that the Contract or a statutory basis expressly authorizes their recovery.
6. Evaluate whether to include additional counts (e.g., unjust enrichment, promissory estoppel) in the alternative.
7. Remove or adjust any sections rendered inapplicable by the particular facts, governing law clause, or dispute-resolution provisions of the Contract.
8. Conform signature block and verification to any local rule requiring two separate signature lines or notarization.
]