Woman who argued job loss caused illness gets $155 million
A jury awarded $155,737,000 to a charter school principal who claimed she developed an intestinal blockage stemming from the loss of her job. Katherine Murphy was principal of the Aventura City of Excellence School. As a city employee, she claimed she regularly interacted with city manager Eric Soroka about school business. She claimed Soroka engaged in a pattern of humiliation and intimidation for perceived contacts between Murphy and city government members. She claimed the situation culminated with her termination. Within a few years, Murphy developed the intestinal blockage. A subsequent infection caused a three-month coma. Defense counsel argued Murphy had been terminated for violating many rules regarding management of the school.
Murphy v. City of AventuraMiami-Dade County
Hospitals not negligent in arranging girl's transport: jury
A jury found that two hospitals were not negligent in arranging a transfer for a girl who later sustained a brain herniation that allegedly resulted in a permanent brain injury. Alexis Cantore, then 13, who suffered from hydrocephalus-brain swelling, was rushed to West Boca Medical Center with complaints of intracranial pressure, nausea and vomiting. Her parents claimed West Boca failed to arrange for a timely transfer of Alexis to Miami Children's Hospital. They claimed the Life Flight team at Miami Children's failed to properly communicate with West Boca. Defense counsel claimed there was no national standard regarding time of transport. They claimed even if Alexis had arrived in Miami much earlier, the outcome would have been the same.
VIEW THE FULL CASE Cantore v. West Boca Medical Center Inc.Palm Beach County
Strip club guests allegedly beaten by bouncers get $187,282
Two guests at a strip club recovered a total of $187,282 for injuries allegedly sustained when they were beaten by club bouncers. Pablo Guerrero, then 35, and Blonsky Ceballos, then 34, became involved in an altercation with the bouncers at Tootsie's Cabaret in Miami Gardens. Guerrero claimed he was beaten unconscious and suffered a fractured left ankle. Ceballos claimed he suffered neck abrasions. Ceballos claimed while Guerrero was being beaten, a bouncer put him in a choke hold. Both plaintiffs claimed they were not rude to the bouncers and did not hit them before the altercation. The jury found each plaintiff 10 percent negligent and the club 90 percent negligent, reducing Guerrero's award to $183,513 and Ceballos' award to $3,759.
VIEW THE FULL CASE Guerrero v. Miami Garden Square One Inc.Miami-Dade County
Largest Florida Jury Verdicts:
(since Jan. 1, 2013; based on cases reported to VerdictSearch)
| VERDICT | CASE | VENUE | DATE |
$45,375,948 |
Estate of Krupp v. Moore |
Polk Co. |
Feb. 8 |
$40,500,000 |
Estate of Schoeff v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. |
Broward Co. |
Feb. 13 |
$26,000,000 |
Brink v. Pereles |
Osceola Co. |
March 27 |
$19,000,000 |
Estate of Hall v. Ford Motor Co. |
Miami-Dade Co. |
Jan. 25 |
$15,590,042 |
Estate of Loyd v. Liggett Group LLC |
Hillsborough Co. |
Feb. 14 |
$12,064,302 |
Estate of Curtis v. Bygel |
Palm Beach Co. |
March 6 |
$7,000,000 |
Caravella v. City of Miramar |
Federal |
March 26 |
$2,400,000 |
Santamaria v. R.L. Haines Construction LLC |
Marion Co. |
Jan. 17 |
$6,000,000 |
Estate of Marotta v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. |
Broward Co. |
March 20 |
$6,000,000 |
Peters v. FCCI Commercial Insurance Co. |
Broward Co. |
Feb. 6 |
