Breach Of Contract Jury Verdicts Settlements

A Broward County jury ruled in favor of Barbara Corsale LLC in a breach of contract lawsuit against Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company. The dispute arose from a June 2022 water damage incident at a Deerfield Beach condominium. While the insurer argued that the damage resulted from long-term seepage or faulty maintenance—both of which were excluded under the policy—the jury rejected these defenses. The verdict confirmed that the loss was a direct, covered event and that the homeowner had fully complied with all post-loss obligations. The Court ordered the insurer to pay the actual cash value of the damages, reinforcing homeowner protections against wrongful claim denials based on unsubstantiated policy exclusions.

A Los Angeles County jury delivered a significant verdict in favor of Art City Center LLC, holding global retailer Gap, Inc. accountable for breaching a commercial lease agreement. The dispute arose after Gap transformed a 57,000-square-foot warehouse at 1360 East 6th Street into a specialized set, allegedly gutting the interior and installing unauthorized structural changes. Art City Center argued that because Gap failed to restore the building to "good operating order" by the May 31, 2022 deadline, the retailer had not legally surrendered the property. The jury agreed, finding that Gap’s failure to return the premises in the required condition constituted a "holdover" of the lease. Consequently, the jury awarded Art City Center $1,294,875.77 in holdover damages and an additional award for repair costs, totaling more than $1.3 million in damages against the clothing giant.

A federal jury in Michigan delivered what is believed to be the largest civil jury verdict in state history, awarding Consumers Energy Company and DTE Electric Company $394,424,138 in damages against Toshiba America Energy Systems Corporation and Toshiba Corporation. The six-week trial centered on a botched $500 million overhaul of the Ludington Pumped Storage Plant, one of the world's largest hydroelectric facilities. The jury found Toshiba breached its contract by delivering defective work on critical turbine components, including discharge ring extensions that suffered cracking and degradation. The defects restricted two units to just 50 hours of annual operation and made the promised 30-year service life impossible. The jury rejected all of Toshiba's affirmative defenses and counterclaims, holding the contractor fully accountable for its failure to meet contractual standards.

Stahl-Lee v. Coit Cleaning & Restoration: $375,000 Settlement Ends Dispute Over Toxic Damage

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.

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.

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.

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.

In the case of Marie Henriquez and Alfonso Martinez v. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the homeowners filed a breach of contract lawsuit following the denial of their insurance claim for damages sustained during Hurricane Ian. The insurer denied coverage, asserting that the damage to the property was not caused by the hurricane but was instead the result of "wear and tear, marring, chipping, scratches, dents, and/or deterioration". Following a trial in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Broward County, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the homeowners on key liability issues. The jurors determined that the plaintiffs suffered a direct physical loss during the policy period and explicitly rejected the defense's argument that the roof damage was caused by wear, tear, or deterioration.

A San Diego construction defects case ended in a $1.4 million settlement after PB Ocean Condos, LLC sued general contractor KDTD, Inc. dba KD Development over widespread building failures at a 16-unit apartment complex. The property owner alleged the contractor failed to properly supervise construction work, resulting in flat roof drainage problems, excessive stucco cracking, balcony waterproofing failures, window and door leaks, corroded HVAC systems, and water intrusion throughout the structure. The lawsuit, filed in September 2024 in San Diego Superior Court, asserted claims for negligence, breach of express and implied warranties, and breach of contract stemming from a March 2018 construction agreement. The defendant denied all allegations and raised 44 affirmative defenses before the parties reached a settlement resolution.

This commercial dispute had arisen from a failed equipment-manufacturing agreement between Basanite Industries and Upstate Custom Products. Each side had accused the other of breaking core contractual duties. A third party, New Haven, had joined after claiming losses tied to its own agreement with Upstate. The jury had reviewed competing claims of breached obligations, delayed performance, and disputed payments. It ultimately had rejected all of Basanite’s claims. The panel had concluded that Basanite had failed to meet essential contractual duties and that no circumstance had excused the non-performance. Upstate had also prevailed on its defense, though its counterclaim produced no award. New Haven had succeeded on its breach-of-contract and unjust-enrichment claims. The jury had awarded $450,000 in damages plus post-judgment interest, marking the only monetary recovery in this multi-party litigation.

A Miami-Dade County jury issued a $30,077.87 award to homeowner Yiliana Pena after finding that Universal Property and Casualty Insurance Company breached its contract by failing to pay her valid property-damage claim. The jury rejected the insurer’s defenses, ruling that Pena complied with all post-loss requirements, including document requests, inspection access, and the Sworn Proof of Loss. The verdict confirmed that Universal failed to meet its burden and was responsible for compensating Pena for the full covered loss to her Cutler Bay home.