Breach Of Fiduciary Duty

The lawsuit Oamic Ingredients, LLC v. Steven Z. Gu (FST-CV23-6063464-S) concluded on October 7, 2025, with a powerful victory for the plaintiff. Oamic Ingredients, LLC, had sued its former Treasurer, Steven Z. Gu, for financial misconduct, including Breach of Contract, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Conversion, and Statutory Civil Theft. The core of the dispute revolved around Oamic’s claim that Mr. Gu had misused his trusted position to misappropriate company funds and assets. Mr. Gu, representing himself as an attorney, denied the allegations and filed counterclaims. After a full jury trial in the Stamford Superior Court, the jury found in favor of Oamic Ingredients LLC on all claims. The jury awarded $327,593.05 in compensatory damages and $40,000.00 in liquidated damages for Breach of Contract, totaling $367,593.05 in direct damages. Furthermore, the jury made a critical finding of YES for both Treble Damages (Statutory Civil Theft) and Punitive Damages (Breach of Fiduciary Duty), which significantly increased the final monetary judgment against Mr. Gu due to his intentional misconduct.

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.

In a heated Coral Gables property dispute, the Knights of Columbus Council No. 3274 sued longtime event manager Fetes & Events, Inc. over control of a historic community hall at 270 Catalonia Avenue. The Knights accused Fetes of breaching fiduciary duties, trespassing, and disrupting charitable events vital to their mission, including allegations of sabotage and unauthorized surveillance. Fetes countered that the Knights had accepted its practices for years and only objected after benefiting from the arrangement. After hearing conflicting accounts, a Miami-Dade jury on April 29, 2025, sided entirely with Fetes & Events. The verdict cleared Fetes of all claims, leaving the Knights without damages or control changes. The case underscores the importance of clear management agreements and consistent oversight in long-term business relationships.