$1.46M Florida Jury Verdict: Baez v. Shelton Injury Case
Table of Contents
Case Background
The legal dispute originated from a motor vehicle collision that took place on July 23, 2022, in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Jorge Baez, a resident of Miami-Dade, was driving his Chevrolet Impala when he encountered Jabari Shelton, a New York resident who was operating a 2021 Mercedes Benz. The incident occurred on Northwest 27th Avenue near the intersection with Northwest 180th Terrace in Miami Gardens.
Cause
According to the legal filings, Jabari Shelton operated his Mercedes Benz in a careless, reckless, and negligent manner. This negligence led directly to a collision with the vehicle driven by Jorge Baez. Baez alleged that Shelton failed to maintain proper control of his vehicle, making the crash an avoidable event had the Defendant exercised reasonable care.
Injury
Jorge Baez sustained significant personal injuries as a direct result of the collision. The impact caused bodily injury that led to physical pain, suffering, and mental anguish. Baez further asserted that these injuries resulted in a permanent physical impairment and a loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life. Medical evaluations eventually determined that the injuries Baez suffered met the threshold for permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability.
Damages Sought
In his initial complaint filed in September 2022, Baez sought compensation exceeding $30,000. He requested damages to cover his past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and the loss of future earning capacity. Additionally, he sought recovery for the property damage to his Chevrolet Impala, including the costs for towing, storage, and the loss of use of the vehicle while it was being repaired or replaced.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The litigation proceeded through the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County. Throughout the discovery phase and the subsequent trial, the parties examined the circumstances of the crash and the long-term impact on the Plaintiff’s health and livelihood.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Jorge Baez
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Jared Newman, Esq. of South Florida Law, PLLC
Defendant(s): Jabari Shelton
· Counsel for Defendant(s): Jabari Shelton
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
The Plaintiff’s counsel focused on the Defendant’s breach of duty while operating a motor vehicle on public roads. They argued that Shelton’s reckless driving was the proximate cause of the crash and that Baez’s life had changed irrevocably because of the physical trauma sustained.
Claims
The central claim involved negligence. Baez asserted that Shelton had a duty to operate his Mercedes Benz safely and that he failed to do so. This failure led to the total loss of use of Baez’s car and forced him to undergo medical treatment. The Plaintiff also claimed that the injuries were permanent in nature, meaning he would require care and suffer from the effects of the crash for the rest of his life.
Defense
While the specific defense arguments were not detailed in the verdict form, the litigation required the jury to determine the extent of the Defendant's liability and the validity of the Plaintiff's claims regarding the severity and permanence of his injuries.
Jury Verdict
On December 15, 2025, after hearing the evidence and deliberating, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Jorge Baez. The jury, led by Foreperson Mary E. Severance, found that the Defendant’s negligence caused permanent injury to the Plaintiff.
Medical Expenses and Lost Earnings
The jury awarded Baez $15,000 for medical expenses he had already incurred in the past. Regarding his employment and financial stability, the jury concluded that he had suffered $8,000 in lost earnings and lost earning capacity as a result of the motor vehicle collision.
Property Damage
The jury addressed the costs related to the Chevrolet Impala by calculating the difference in the car’s value before and after the incident at $6,000. They also awarded $2,000 for reasonable towing and storage charges and another $2,000 for the loss of use of the vehicle during the repair or replacement period. This brought the total property damage award to $10,000.
Non-Economic Damages
A substantial portion of the verdict accounted for the non-physical toll of the accident. For pain and suffering, disability, physical impairment, and mental anguish, the jury awarded Baez $94,990 for what he had endured in the past. More significantly, because they found his injuries to be permanent, they awarded him $1,335,600 for future pain and suffering and loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life.
Final Judgment
Following the verdict, Judge Antonio Arzola entered a Final Judgment on January 13, 2026. The Court ordered Jabari Shelton to pay Jorge Baez the total sum of $1,463,590.00. This judgment also includes post-judgment interest at the statutory rate from the date of entry until the amount is paid in full.