Miami-Dade County Court Ends Eight-Figure Commercial Aviation Dispute With Summary Judgment

CSK Defense Team
Miami Partner Thomas Scott
Miami Partner Juan Franco

Case Summary
This case arose from a commercial aviation contract dispute involving parties from the United States, Europe, and Canada. Following an aircraft incident, the Plaintiff pursued an eight-figure claim against CSK’s client, an overhaul and repair company, related to the overhaul of a Boeing 757 landing gear assembly.

The lawsuit involved a disagreement over the enforceability and applicability of a contractual provision limiting liability to the overhaul services and whether the Defendant could be held liable for the damage alleged by the Plaintiff.

Defense Strategy
The CSK Defense Team maintained that the parties’ written overhaul agreement and its contractual provision limiting liability controlled the transaction rather than the alternative theories advanced by the Plaintiff.

To support its position, the Team relied on the Plaintiff’s prior court filings, the parties’ course of conduct, and documentary evidence. At oral argument, Mr. Franco distilled complex caselaw and its application to the documents and argued that the record did not present a factual dispute requiring a trial.

Outcome
The Court granted the Defendant’s motion for summary final judgment, denied the Plaintiff’s competing motion, and dismissed the claims with prejudice. The Court also determined that the agreement’s provision limiting liability was enforceable and barred recovery.

The ruling resolved the eight-figure claim without a trial. The Court reserved jurisdiction over attorneys’ fees and costs. The decision highlights the role that clearly defined contractual terms and risk-allocation provisions can play in high-value commercial transactions.