Florida Jury Awards Woman Title in Forged Deed Dispute
Table of Contents
Case Background
This case unfolded in Miami-Dade County, Florida, before the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court. It began with Sharon Lewis accusing her niece, Shernise Lewis, and Dawanda Jenkins of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme to take ownership of her home in Miami Gardens. The house at the center of the dispute sat at 20435 NW 37th Court. Sharon claimed she and her brother, Sherman Lewis Sr., had owned the property as joint tenants with right of survivorship since 1993. When Sherman died in January 2024, she expected full ownership. Instead, she discovered a quitclaim deed, dated 2020, that transferred her interest to Shernise.
Cause that led to the dispute
Sharon believed the quitclaim deed was forged. She stated that her signature had been faked and the notary, Dawanda Jenkins, had notarized the deed even though her commission didn’t begin until 2021. Sharon insisted this was part of a calculated effort by Shernise to steal the property after Sherman’s death. She said the deed’s notary seal, date, and her own signature clearly pointed to fraud. Shernise, however, argued that she had only followed her father’s wishes. She claimed the deed was among documents found in his safety deposit box and believed it to be valid.
Injury
Sharon claimed she lost legal control of the property because of the fraudulent deed. She said it stopped her from selling, managing, or settling her brother’s estate in line with their original agreement. She described how the situation caused her emotional distress and financial difficulty. She also claimed that it disrupted her responsibilities in resolving Sherman’s affairs. Shernise, in contrast, said she had cared for her father in his final years and followed his instructions in good faith. She felt Sharon had unfairly accused her, damaging her reputation and ignoring her caregiving efforts.
Damages
Sharon Lewis sought compensation for the loss of legal control over her property, including financial losses from being unable to sell, manage, or settle her brother’s estate according to their original agreement. She also sought redress for the emotional distress and reputational harm caused by the alleged fraudulent deed, as well as any applicable treble damages under Florida’s civil theft statute.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
The trial centered around the authenticity of the 2020 deed. Sharon’s legal team pointed out that the notary stamp on the document was issued in 2021, a year after the deed’s date. They also highlighted spelling errors in Sharon’s name and an inaccurate property address. These mistakes, they argued, proved the document was fake. Sharon’s attorneys also shared evidence that Sherman wanted to divide the home’s value 60% for Sharon, 40% for Shernise after his death.
The defense painted a different picture. Shernise, who represented herself, described how she had looked after Sherman and found the deed among his belongings. She said she followed her father's instructions and denied any wrongdoing. She claimed the property had never been jointly owned and that her father had always intended for her to inherit it. Jenkins, the notary named on the deed, did not respond formally to the complaint.
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Sharon Lewis
Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Yaniv Nahon
Defendant(s): Shernise Lewis | Dawanda Jenkins
Counsel for Defendant(s): Anthony Gonzalez (appearance only for trial)
Key Arguments by Counsel
Sharon’s attorney focused on the technical flaws in the quitclaim deed. He argued that the deed’s execution date predated the notary’s commission, making it impossible to be legally valid. He also pointed to spelling issues and other errors as signs of fraud. Sharon’s lawyer stressed that Sherman had told others he intended for Sharon to receive most of the proceeds from the home. Meanwhile, Shernise stood by her belief that she had acted according to her father’s wishes and did not intend to deceive anyone.
Claims
Civil Theft
Sharon brought a claim under Florida Statute § 772.11, accusing both Defendants of civil theft. She alleged they conspired to deprive her of her rightful property through fraud and forgery.
Quiet Title
Sharon also sought to clear the title to the property. She asked the court to declare her the rightful owner and nullify the quitclaim deed. The jury agreed and ruled the deed invalid.
Defense
Shernise argued that she had merely acted on her father’s instructions. She stated that the documents she filed came from Sherman’s safety deposit box and that she believed them to be genuine. She said she had taken care of her father and deserved to remain in the home. Jenkins did not provide a formal answer but faced accusations due to the questionable notary stamp.
Jury Verdict
On April 16, 2025, the jury ruled in favor of Sharon Lewis. They found that both Shernise Lewis and Dawanda Jenkins had committed civil theft. More importantly, they granted her full title to the property, confirming that she was the lawful owner and that the 2020 deed was invalid. The verdict restored Sharon’s rights and ended a painful family dispute over ownership of the Miami Gardens home.
Court Documents