News & Events

Cristobal Casal, Managing Partner of the Fort Myers office, and Brian Buczynski, an Associate, obtained a defense verdict in a products liability personal injury lawsuit involving an exploding lithium ion battery that Plaintiff was using in an electronic cigarette device.  The client was sued for selling a lithium ion battery that was alleged to have design defects that allowed it to short-circuit, catch on fire, and cause the Plaintiff to suffer second and third degree burns to his left hand.  The Plaintiff was a middle aged information technology worker who claimed that he had lost grip strength in his hand, was suffering from mild carpal tunnel disorder, and tremors and shaking that were not present before the date of the event.  Plaintiff boarded more than $77,000.00 in incurred medical expenses and asked the jury to award up to $3,300,000.00 during closing argument.  The trial took place over five days in Sarasota County, Florida.  The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before rendering their verdict in favor of the defense and finding no entitlement to damages.  The client will be entitled to pursue its attorneys’ fees and costs as there was a Proposal for Settlement served on the Plaintiff that was allowed to lapse. 

Rod Lundy, a partner, and Tylar Heintz, an associate, both of our Orlando office, obtained a favorable verdict in Orange County, Florida before Judge Denise Beamer. Plaintiff was a pedestrian in the crosswalk when contacted by the collapsible mirror of defendant's vehicle which was making a left across plaintiff's path of travel. The incident was captured on a traffic video camera. Defendant admitted liability but argued comparative fault, causation, and damages.

Cristobal Casal, managing partner, and Elliott Tubbs, an associate, in the firm’s Fort Myers office, obtained a defense verdict in a first party property case tried over 2 days in Lee County, Florida.  Plaintiff was a water mitigation contractor and claimed that the home was damaged as a result of Hurricane Irma and that the insurance carrier breached the subject policy of insurance by denying the claim.  The jury found that the Plaintiff had not met their burden of proving that the home was damaged within the policy period.

Tom McCausland, Seth Goldberg, and Hinda Klein, partners in our Hollywood office, and May Swartz, a partner in our Tallahassee office, recently tried a trucking accident case in Orange County, in which the Plaintiff sought in excess of $4 million in damages.  The defense admitted negligence, but disputed causation and permanency.  The jury determined that the Plaintiff did not sustain a permanent injury in the accident and awarded her approximately $29,000 in damages, well below what had previously been offered.

Joshua E. Nathanson, a partner in the firm’s Hollywood office, obtained a verdict in an admitted liability rear-end auto collision. This was one of the first live trials held in Miami, Dade County since the COVID-19 shutdown.