Jurimatic: Verdicts and Settlements

On April 17, 2025, the Los Angeles County Superior Court granted final approval for a class action settlement between plaintiffs Marina Durham and Cassandra Hall-LePrevost and defendant Steak 48 Beverly Hills, LLC. The litigation, which consolidated two separate complaints, alleged that the high-end dining establishment engaged in systematic labor violations, including the failure to authorize required rest periods and meal breaks, and the failure to pay minimum and overtime wages for all hours worked. The plaintiffs, representing a class of non-exempt employees who worked at the restaurant between November 20, 2019, and June 27, 2024, also claimed the employer failed to reimburse business expenses related to uniform cleaning and provided inaccurate wage statements. Under the terms of the agreement, Steak 48 will pay a Gross Settlement Amount of $252,000 to resolve the claims without admitting liability. The settlement also includes $25,000 in PAGA penalties and attorney fees for class counsel.

Brothers Stephen and Richard Paper sued the City of Los Angeles and Officer Jason Stevenson after a harrowing collision in Encino. The plaintiffs alleged Officer Stevenson was driving his patrol vehicle at 80 mph in a 45-mph zone—without emergency lights or sirens—when he T-boned their vehicle as they made a left turn . The impact caused life-threatening injuries, requiring multiple surgeries for both brothers . The city agreed to an $18 million settlement to resolve the negligence claims.

A Miami-Dade County jury delivered a defense verdict in favor of People's Trust Insurance Company on July 29, 2025. Homeowners Jasmine Villaflor and Margarita Hijosa claimed a September 2022 windstorm damaged their residential property at 5920 SW 157th Place, Miami. Their public adjuster estimated repairs at $100,731.52, including full roof replacement and interior repairs to multiple rooms. The insurance company denied the claim, arguing the plaintiffs reported the loss more than one year after it allegedly occurred. People's Trust raised fourteen affirmative defenses, including late notice, wear and tear, and policy exclusions. The jury found the plaintiffs did not prove windstorm damage occurred during the coverage period, ending the case without a damages award.

In a significant wrongful death verdict, a Miami-Dade County jury unanimously determined that three defendants—Monte Carlo of Miami Condominium Association, Inc., Akam On-Site, Inc., and EMS Protective Group, LLC—were negligent in their security responsibilities, leading to the fatal shooting of Jason Campbell on June 1, 2021. The jury awarded $100 million in damages to Campbell's surviving family members, including his parents and three minor children. The case centered on the defendants' failure to maintain adequate security, implement access controls, and respond to prior criminal threats at the residential property, including a documented incident four months before the shooting in which the same assailant gained unauthorized access. The verdict emphasized the defendants' legal duty to protect residents and invitees from reasonably foreseeable criminal acts and the consequences of failing to do so.

Three gym members won their negligence lawsuit after a ceiling fan fell on them during a workout at F45 Training Hodges-Kernan in Jacksonville, Florida. The incident occurred on May 17, 2021, when Mary Menze, Sheryl Davis, and Kevin McGetrick were performing warm-up exercises. The jury returned its verdict on June 26, 2025, finding All Service Electric Group, Inc. 73% at fault, Fasanelli Construction, Inc. 15% at fault, and LINK 107, LLC d/b/a F45 Training Hodges-Kernan 12% at fault. The plaintiffs claimed the defendants failed to properly maintain, inspect, and secure the hanging fans, creating a hazardous condition that resulted in bodily injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost earnings.

A Broward County jury issued a decisive ruling in favor of Plaintiff Yezid Arango in his contract dispute against Carlos Cifuentes and Urbanac Construction LLC SAS. The case arose from a failed housing development project in Colombia and a promissory note through which Arango had lent the Defendants more than $364,000. Despite multiple payment deadlines, the Defendants made no repayments and denied owing the debt. During trial, Arango presented evidence showing repeated fund transfers, a written promissory note, and a subsequent acknowledgment of additional debt. The Defendants argued that the funds were part of a separate Colombian transaction and that the Florida court lacked jurisdiction. The jury rejected these defenses and awarded Arango the principal balance plus accrued interest totaling $481,307.35. The verdict ended an 18-month legal battle and confirmed that the Defendants were contractually liable for the unpaid loan.

An 84-year-old California drag racing enthusiast won an $8 million punitive damages verdict against his longtime friend who allegedly exploited their decades-long relationship to fraudulently obtain a 30-acre property worth $8.5 million. Gary J. Reinero trusted Clifford J. Caton's real estate expertise when borrowing money against his Merced County property, but Caton allegedly disguised usurious interest rates as "loan origination fees," fabricated financial pressure through false claims about mortgage payments, and concealed crucial information about the property's development potential. After convincing the elderly Reinero to transfer the property title in 2014 under false pretenses, Caton sold the land for $8.5 million and kept all proceeds. The jury's substantial punitive award reflected the severity of exploiting an elder's trust through systematic deception spanning more than a decade.

A Miami-Dade County jury had issued a decisive verdict on April 22, 2025, after it had found Alexander Mosquera negligent for the collision that injured Raymond Del Valle. The lawsuit, filed against Mosquera and Tiger & Son Roofing Company, had centered on claims that the Defendant driver caused the crash and that the company bore vicarious liability as owner of the truck under Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine. Jurors awarded $502,923.76 in total damages, including past and future medical expenses and significant non-economic damages for pain, disability, and impaired quality of life. The verdict had confirmed that Mr. Del Valle sustained permanent injuries and that Mosquera’s actions were the legal cause of his losses.

Loren Baker sued Terry Hillman Williams over a 2022 vehicle crash in Independence, Oregon, claiming the defendant’s speeding, poor lookout, and failure to yield caused the collision. Baker sought $10,000 in damages for medical costs, pain, and emotional distress. Williams denied negligence but admitted the accident occurred. After reviewing testimony and damage evidence, the jury found Williams liable but awarded Baker only $1,000—$763.45 in economic damages and $236.55 in non-economic damages. The verdict confirmed fault but delivered a minimal recovery compared to the claim.

This federal commercial dispute involved a breakdown in a specialized underwater cable repair project governed by the Subsea Cable Repair Agreement. Subsea Marine Services, Inc. claimed it fulfilled its repair obligations, while SMITCOMS failed to pay for the work performed. Subsea argued it mobilized specialized vessels, crew, and equipment, yet SMITCOMS withheld payment despite receiving the benefit. SMITCOMS countered that Subsea failed to perform according to contractual standards and raised several affirmative defenses, including nonperformance, estoppel, waiver, and unclean hands. After reviewing technical evidence and contract terms, the jury returned a unanimous verdict on November 3, 2025, finding that SMITCOMS breached the agreement. The jury awarded Subsea $286,250.00 in contract damages and $3,900.00 for unjust enrichment, rejecting every defense raised. The jury also found Subsea did not breach the contract, resulting in zero recovery on SMITCOMS’s counterclaim.

The Los Angeles County Superior Court finalized a $440,000 class action settlement in Nelson Miranda v. CA Glatt Mart, Inc. The lawsuit alleged that the supermarket operator systematically violated the California Labor Code by failing to provide proper minimum wage, overtime, accurate wage statements, and legally mandated meal and rest periods to hundreds of non-exempt, hourly-paid employees. The compromise concluded two years of litigation, providing financial relief to the class members for lost wages and statutory penalties.

Miami-Dade jury awards Bay Harbour Investment, Inc. $300,000 in damages after finding four defendants liable for fraud in the inducement and negligent misrepresentation in a disputed waterfront property transaction. The May 2025 verdict held 9740 W Bay Harbor Dr, LLC, SINA, LLC, and individuals Samuel Sami and Elias Sabbagh responsible for concealing material defects about the property's condition and development potential. Judge Antonio Arzola's final judgment includes pre-judgment interest from October 2021, with the court reserving jurisdiction over attorney's fees and enforcement. The three-year litigation centered on alleged intentional misstatements regarding sea wall problems and permitting issues that caused the buyer significant remediation costs and development delays.