October 5, 2023 | Verdicts and Settlements

Fort Myers Attorneys Obtain Defense Verdict in a Construction Defect Case

Cris Casal, partner, and Glenn Gunsten, associate, from the Fort Myers office obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a grading subcontractor in a defense and indemnity jury trial on a construction defect claim in Collier County, Florida. The general contractor filed a third-party claim in which it sued all of the subcontractors whose scope of work was purportedly implicated in the underlying suit with the homeowner. The lawsuit was the culmination of six years of litigation in which all of the named subcontractors settled their claims against the general contractor prior to trial, except for the grading subcontractor. The jury deliberated for slightly more than an hour before returning with a defense verdict in favor of the grading subcontractor. The grading subcontractor will now seek to collect attorney’s fees and costs stemming from a rejected Proposal for Settlement that was served more than four years ago.  

October 2, 2023 | Legal Alerts

Premises Liability Case Results in Summary Judgment Victory

Aaron B. Zeilberger, an associate in the firm’s Orlando office, recently prevailed on a Motion for Final Summary Judgment in a Premises Liability/Slip and Fall Case on behalf of a hotel. The Defense argued that there was insufficient evidence to prove the existence of a dangerous condition caused by a transitory foreign substance on the floor, and that the plaintiff could not provide enough evidence to demonstrate negligence on the part of the Defendant. The Court agreed and granted Summary Judgment in the Defendant’s favor. The court reserved jurisdiction to consider attorney's fees and costs. 

September 19, 2023 | Verdicts and Settlements

Tallahassee Attorneys Prevail on Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” Law

Joshua C. Canton, a partner in the firm's Tallahassee, Florida office, along with Justin B. Hales, an associate in the firm’s Tallahassee, Florida office, recently prevailed on a Motion to Declare the Defendant Immune from Civil Action pursuant to Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” Law. Mr. Canton and Mr. Hales successfully argued that while there was an altercation at the Defendant’s place of employment, Defendant had no duty to retreat, Plaintiff’s spittle and forehead hit the Defendant and placed the Defendant in imminent fear for his safety, and the Defendant was immune from prosecution as he was authorized to stand his ground and use non-deadly force when he struck Plaintiff.