May 27, 2025
ShareKelley Kronenberg Secures Victory in Multi-Million Dollar Construction Dispute
Kelley Kronenberg Partner/Business Unit Leader Angelo Gasparri, Senior Trial Counsel Ryan Galka, Attorney Matthew Lipari, and Paralegal Naomi Green secured a significant victory in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, successfully defending against 16 of 18 counts in a complex commercial construction dispute with potential exposure exceeding $2.4 million.
The case stemmed from a renovation project on a $10 million residential property, where the plaintiff filed an 18-count complaint against multiple defendants, including both a corporate entity and several individuals. The claims included breach of contract, unjust enrichment, breach of warranty, violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA), fraud, and liability for filing a fraudulent lien.
What made this case particularly challenging was the plaintiff’s litigation strategy, which our team characterized as a vexatious “Death March” of spurious efforts designed to exhaust the defendants’ resources through protracted litigation. The plaintiff sought treble damages that would have resulted in joint and several liability exceeding $2.4 million against all defendants, including personal liability for the individual defendants.
Despite the plaintiff’s aggressive tactics and the fact that all claims survived summary judgment, the team secured a directed verdict on 8 of the counts and narrowed the issues for the jury. Our ability to bring together a cross-divisional team provided for a well-rounded and comprehensive approach to the complex litigation.
After a six-day trial in front of Judge Jorge Perez Santiago, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants on 8 of the 10 remaining counts. Most critically, the defense team succeeded in eliminating all personal liability for the individual defendants. This outcome effectively shielded the individual clients from potentially ruinous financial consequences.
This case exemplifies Kelley Kronenberg’s capacity to handle high-stakes commercial litigation through collaborative, cross-practice efforts that combine deep subject matter expertise with superior trial advocacy.