CSK Defense Team
Tampa Partner Paydon Broeder
Tampa Associate Keily Lopez Torralba
Case Summary
A property insurance dispute held in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit recently came to a close after 1 ½ years of heavy litigation. The case involved a Plaintiff—an individual property owner—who sued their insurance company, the Defendant, over a denied claim related to Hurricane Ian damages.
Defense Strategy
The CSK Defense Team focused their strategy on the Plaintiff’s failure to prove the correct computation of damages. Ms. Lopez Torralba stepped in just days before proceedings began—her first trial—and handled key parts of the defense, including opening statements and the direct examination of both the engineering expert and the field adjuster. The defense argued that, under Florida law, the Plaintiff needed to show the proper amount of damages as of the date of breach to succeed in their breach of contract claim.
Verdict
After the Defendant presented its case, the Court revisited earlier motions for a directed verdict. The judge found that the Plaintiff had not proven an essential element of their claim—the proper computation of damages. As a result, the Court granted the Defendant’s motion for a directed verdict, entering final judgment in favor of the insurance company. The Plaintiff was awarded nothing, and the Defendant was cleared of liability.
Special Thanks
Orlando Partner Jennifer Ngoie
Tampa Paralegal Thomas Stanley
Tampa Legal Assistants Rachel Spadaccini and Margaret-Ann Jones
Orlando Legal Assistant Lee Kusak
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