First Party Defense Verdict Obtained in a Hurricane Michael Trial

Posted in Verdicts and Settlements on December 2, 2021

Michael Bonfanti and Joshua Canton, partners in the firm’s Tallahassee office, and their associate Taylor Hansford obtained a defense verdict in a Hurricane Michael first party property case tried over three days in Bay County, Florida.  The Plaintiffs argued at trial that their home was a total loss due to structural damage to the pilings by the hurricane. The Defendant argued that the home had no structural damage, was repairable, and that the Defendant had already paid its insureds the reasonable costs to repair the home prior to litigation. The jury awarded $0.00 for repair of the home. The Plaintiffs also failed to secure a verdict above the expired exclusive Proposals for Settlement served upon each Plaintiff, thus entitling the Defendant to recover its attorney’s fees.