If Someone Uses Your Credentials to Win a Deal, and Cuts You Out—A Good Breach of Contract Lawyer Might Prove You Have a Claim

You help another company land a major contract. They use your pricing, your certification, and maybe even your name. They promise you a piece of the deal once it goes through. Then the deal goes through—and suddenly, you’re out.

In many states, that’s just bad business. In New Jersey, it might be a good breach of contract lawyer might convince a court you have a claim.

The Case That Sends a Message: ICCG v. Oxford Electronics

This isn’t hypothetical. In Industrial Commercial Cleaning Group, Inc. v. Oxford Electronics, Inc., a New Jersey federal court just gave the green light to a breach of contract lawsuit that many businesses would have assumed dead on arrival.

ICCG, a certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE), teamed up with Oxford Electronics to bid on a massive five-year contract at Newark Liberty International Airport. ICCG didn’t just lend moral support—they gave Oxford their pricing, their MWBE credentials, and their institutional credibility. And they had one ask: if Oxford wins, ICCG gets a subcontract.

Oxford won. ICCG got ghosted.

Instead of honoring the deal, Oxford allegedly created new hoops, delayed responses, and eventually left ICCG with nothing.

ICCG sued. Oxford tried to get the case thrown out. But the court let the breach of contract and promissory estoppel claims proceed. Why? Because even without a final signed subcontract, the facts alleged—Oxford’s use of ICCG’s materials, promises to work together, and ICCG’s reliance—could create a binding obligation under New Jersey law.

Why This Matters—Especially in New Jersey

New Jersey courts have long been more open than other jurisdictions to enforcing informal agreements. They take promissory estoppel seriously. They recognize quasi-contract and unjust enrichment where fairness demands it. Most importantly, they are more willing than many jurisdictions to allow breach of contract claims to move forward even where the parties never inked a traditional agreement.

In short, if someone in New Jersey makes a clear promise, and you rely on it to your detriment, a good breach of contract lawyer might convince a court you have a claim—even if the ink never hit a formal contract.

Key Takeaways for GCs, Founders, and Growing Businesses

 

1. 1. Don’t Assume You’re Powerless Without a Signature: If you contributed to a winning bid and were promised a role, you may have enforceable rights under breach of contract theories.

1. 1. In NJ, Courts Don’t Tolerate Bait-and-Switch Bidding: If someone used your certification, pricing, or reputation to win—and then iced you out—you might have a breach or estoppel claim.

1. 1. Your Emails Matter: Courts consider the full context. Promises made in emails, bid decks, or presentations can add up to a binding commitment and support breach of contract allegations.

1. 1. Document Your Contributions: Keep records of what you provided and what was promised. The more specific the promise, the stronger your breach of contract case.

Preventive Tips for Businesses in New Jersey

 

• • If you’re a MWBE or niche vendor: don’t be the “credibility partner” unless your role is written, defined, and protected. Clarity up front avoids a breach of contract fight later.

• • If you’re the prime bidder: spell out expectations clearly. If you make promises during the bid process, courts may hold you to them.

• • If you’re forming a joint venture, subcontract, or teaming agreement—make the terms concrete. Ambiguity is fertile ground for litigation and breach of contract disputes.

Bottom Line

In New Jersey, courts will dig deeper than the absence of a final contract. If you helped win the work and were promised a seat at the table, that promise may carry legal weight. A breach of contract lawyer might show that you have an available claim even in the absence of a formal document.

At Equal Justice Solutions, our breach of Contract lawyers Help Businesses—especially MWBEs and emerging companies—protect their role in public and private contracts. If your partner won the deal and left you behind, it’s worth a conversation. Learn more about how we work here:

Reach out to discuss whether your promise has teeth—or if you need a breach of contract lawyer to get you you’re owed.