Miami Partners, Cody German and Andrew Simon, recently obtained a complete defense verdict after a complicated two-week commercial jury trial in Miami.
The case stemmed from a 10-year post-marital litigation battle that is still pending. CSK represented the former wife. After the husband (Plaintiff) and wife divorced, the husband pledged his art collection to CSK’s client for her to sell for fair market value to help pay down the multi-million dollar debt that he owed her.
The client proceeded to sell the art collection for $175,000, while the Plaintiff alleged that the art collection was worth north of $1.8m. After CSK obtained directed verdicts on Conversion, Civil Theft, Conspiracy to Commit Fraud, and Fraudulent Transfer claims, the trial focused on whether CSK’s client properly sold the artwork in accordance with the marital settlement agreement and whether the art was sold for “fair market value.”
The jury returned a complete defense verdict in the client’s favor and found that CSK's client did not breach the agreement to sell the artwork for fair market value.
Another aspect of the trial worth noting is the high caliber lawyers involved. For example, Plaintiff’s counsel is a well-known trial lawyer who was former Federal Prosecutor in the economic crimes division in New York. The co-Defendants in the case were likewise represented by reputable lawyers.
Before trial, the client offered Former Husband $1 million dollars to settle. Because of the win on directed verdict on the civil theft count – our client is entitled to all of her fees.
After the jury trial, Cody German and Andrew Simon handled a contested bench trial on a separate dispute involving similar parties and obtained a Judgment exceeding $500,000 for past due child support in favor of their client. This judgment likewise entitles CSK’s clients to her legal fees and costs.
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