Jurimatic: Verdicts and Settlements

A Miami-Dade County jury delivered a complete verdict on November 22, 2024, in favor of the international law firm Dentons US, LLP and its partner, Susan J. Rammelt, concluding a years-long, highly complex civil trial. Venezuelan entities, including Cines Unidos, S.A., had alleged that the Defendants participated in an elaborate, international fraud and Ponzi scheme that caused them millions of dollars in losses related to a failed bolivar-to-dollar promissory note transaction. The Plaintiffs pursued claims for Fraudulent Misrepresentation, Civil Conspiracy to Defraud, and Aiding and Abetting Breach of Fiduciary Duty. The defense denied all allegations, arguing that their role was limited to professional legal representation and that they lacked the necessary knowledge or intent for the alleged fraud. The jury answered "No" to the fundamental questions of liability on all counts, finding the Plaintiffs had not met their burden of proof, thereby absolving the law firm and its partner of any liability.

The case, John Malik v. Deccan Value LLC, et al., heard in the Superior Court of Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut, pitted former business executive John Malik against the investment management entities and their principal, Vinit M. Bodas. Malik had filed a multi-count complaint, alleging breach of contract, failure to pay wages, statutory theft, unjust enrichment, and defamation, primarily stemming from disputes over his compensation and termination. The defendants, Deccan Value LLC and Bodas, denied all allegations and asserted that Malik had been properly paid and that his conduct justified their actions. After a jury trial that concluded on August 13, 2025, the jury returned a complete defense verdict. The jury considered each of Malik's 14 claims, including Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, Breach of Contract, Fraudulent Inducement, and Defamation Per Se. On every single count, the jury found in favor of the Deccan entities and Bodas, relieving them of all liability for damages and punitive measures sought by Malik.

The civil action, Susanne E. Skaf, as Trustee of the Susanne E. Skaf Revocable Trust v. Beydoun Construction, LLC (Case No. CACE-22-004051), centered on a failed renovation project in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Plaintiff Skaf claimed the contractor, Beydoun Construction, fundamentally breached the renovation contract by performing substandard and incomplete work, in addition to acting negligently and filing a fraudulent construction lien. The defense argued Skaf breached the contract first by failing to pay the final balance of $18,800.00 and asserted the economic loss rule as a bar to the negligence claim. After hearing the arguments, the jury in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit returned a verdict on July 30, 2025. The jury found that Beydoun Construction, LLC, did breach the contract and was negligent, resulting in a total damage award to Skaf of $38,407.00. Crucially, the jury found that the contractor did not file a fraudulent lien and that Skaf did not breach the contract, effectively dismissing the contractor's $18,800.00 counterclaim.

The case, Mildred and Edgardo Ventura v. State Farm Florida Insurance Company centered on a homeowner's claim for water and mold damage in Broward County, Florida. Plaintiffs Mildred and Edgardo Ventura argued State Farm breached their insurance contract by refusing to cover the loss reported in November 2021. State Farm admitted that damage occurred during the policy period, but its defense hinged on policy exclusions, specifically arguing the damage resulted from continuous or repeated seepage or leakage over time, a non-covered event. The jury in the 17th Judicial Circuit delivered a verdict on August 28, 2025. After the jury confirmed that the homeowners' property sustained damage during the policy period, they answered the critical second question: the jury found that the greater weight of the evidence did show the damage was excluded from coverage by the policy. This ruling validated State Farm’s denial, meaning the Venturas received no recovery for their claim.

Former employee Hector Leon initiated a class action lawsuit against Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., alleging the company systematically failed to follow California’s stringent wage and hour laws, resulting in substantial financial losses for a large group of current and former non-exempt employees. The primary claims involved the non-payment of minimum and overtime wages, failure to provide mandatory meal and rest periods, and issuing inaccurate wage statements. The defendant, Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc., denied the claims but ultimately agreed to a negotiated, binding settlement, establishing a total gross settlement fund of $1,500,000 (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) to resolve all claims made by the class.

The lawsuit, Broward Outpatient Medical Center, LLC, et al. v. Medmal Direct Insurance Company (Case No. CACE-21-020771), was an insurance coverage dispute heard in Broward County, Florida. Plaintiffs BOMC and BISC claimed their insurer, Medmal Direct, wrongfully denied coverage and defense for underlying medical malpractice claims related to an insured physician, Merrill Reuter, M.D. The facilities asserted the policy covered them and that Medmal Direct's denial constituted a breach of contract. Medmal Direct, the Defendant, centered its defense on the Plaintiffs' failure to provide claim notice during the policy period, an essential policy requirement, and raised exclusions for fraud or fee disputes. The jury, returning its verdict on July 25, 2025, sided completely with the insurer. Specifically, the jury found that Medmal Direct did not receive a claim notice on behalf of the facilities and did not waive its policy requirement. Furthermore, the jury concluded that the Plaintiffs did not prove by clear and convincing evidence that the insurer made a factual representation that created a basis for equitable estoppel.

In 2021, General Nurse Keila García Colón filed a lawsuit against the Corporation of the State Insurance Fund (CSIF) in Puerto Rico, alleging sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation during her employment. The key claim centered on retaliation after García engaged in protected conduct by reporting harassment. The jury found that the CSIF had retaliated against García, creating a hostile work environment. On the verdict, the jury awarded her $200,000 in compensatory damages for emotional and mental distress caused by the retaliation. While punitive and other damages were left to the Court’s later determination, the verdict represented a significant victory for García and a reminder of the legal protections against workplace retaliation and discrimination under Title VII and Puerto Rico law.

A Connecticut jury on August 20, 2025, ruled in favor of Plaintiff Veronica Delandro in her lawsuit against Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois. The case arose from a 2022 hit-and-run collision in New Britain that left Delandro injured and facing mounting medical expenses. After Safeco refused to pay uninsured motorist benefits under her policy, Delandro filed suit. Following trial, the jury awarded her $900,000 in total damages, including $521,596.53 in economic losses and $378,403 in non-economic damages. The verdict reinforced that insurance carriers must honor policy obligations when victims suffer from the negligence of uninsured or unidentified drivers.

Whirlpool Corporation and Whirlpool Properties, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Shenzhen Sanlida Electrical Technology Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Avoga Technology Co. Ltd. in the Eastern District of Texas, accusing the Chinese manufacturers of trademark infringement and unfair competition over their KITCHENAID® stand mixer design. Whirlpool alleged the Defendants copied the ‘158 Trademark,’ misleading consumers and profiting from the brand’s established goodwill. The jury sided with Whirlpool, finding the Shenzhen Defendants willfully infringed on Whirlpool’s registered trademark. On the verdict, the jury awarded Whirlpool $25 million in compensatory damages and $2,045,644 in profits, totaling $27,045,644. The finding of willfulness allows for potential treble damages. The case underscored the importance of protecting intellectual property against imitation in global markets.

A Miami-Dade County jury returned a verdict in a complex financial dispute involving claims of usury, fraud, civil conspiracy, and unjust enrichment. Plaintiff Manuel A. Bastardo Hernandez and Counter-Defendant Global Trading and Foods Corp. sued Defendant Jose Alberto Olortegui Quispe over an alleged predatory loan. The jury found against the Plaintiff on the primary Usury claim. However, the jury sided with Counter-Plaintiff Olortegui, awarding him $351,000 for Unjust Enrichment against both Bastardo and Global Trading. The verdict ultimately rejected the more severe allegations of fraud and civil conspiracy made by both sides, focusing the recovery on the equitable claim. The judgment was officially entered on March 26, 2025, closing the case against all parties.

A six-year friendship between motorcycle riders Matty Feldman and John A. Masanotti Jr. ended in a courtroom after a $100,000 investment turned into a legal battle. Feldman claimed Masanotti misused his money through his business, Middlesex Mortgage Group, treating it as personal funds. The jury sided with Feldman, ruling that Masanotti had committed civil conversion. On August 14, 2025, the verdict awarded Feldman $352,842.83 in total damages. However, Masanotti was cleared of aiding and abetting claims. The decision highlighted the risks of mixing friendship with financial trust.

Jackson Kwok initiated a lawsuit against Genera Corporation and several other Defendants, including T.Y.C. Brother Industrial Co., Ltd, Innova Holding Corporation, Jerry Wu, and Chun Chi Wu, alleging wrongful termination and retaliation. Kwok claimed he suffered adverse employment action, including termination, after reporting or resisting discrimination, harassment, or possibly illegal business practices. Genera Corporation filed an answer denying the allegations and subsequently lodged a Cross-Complaint for damages and equitable relief against Kwok, Annie Mun Nee Wong, Singgong LLC, and OneRoadFat LLC. The pleadings indicate a dispute over employment contracts, whistleblower protection, and business practices within the Orange County Superior Court system. This summary covers the claims and defenses based on the filed complaints and answers, as the jury verdict and expert disclosures were not provided for review.