Significant Business Litigation and White Collar Criminal Defense Matters
Defeated multimillion-dollar fraud claim by Lloyds of London Syndicate against U.S. cargo insurance broker. Ramon International Insurance Brokers, Inc. v. Chaucer Syndicates Limited, etc., 421 So.3d 747 (Fla. 3d DCA 2025), rev. denied, Chaucer Syndicates Limited v. Ramon International Insurance Brokers, Inc., SC2025-1559, 2026 WL 91903 (Fla. Jan. 13, 2026)(Reversing order allowing punitive damages fraud-based claim)
Secured $5.3 million judgment for UFC boxer against boxing promotor for failure to pay purse. Jorge Masvidal v. Fanmio, Inc., Case No. 2025-015515 (Miami-Dade County, Florida Circuit Court)(October 14, 2025 Order and Final Judgment)
Lead defense trial counsel for e-commerce consumer goods company in multimillion-dollar federal trademark and unfair competition trial. Aroma 360, LLC and Hotel Collection, LLC v. Scentiment, LLC, Case No. 24-cv-25031 (S.D.Fl.)
Represented international aviation insurer as co-lead trial counsel, defeating $80 million aviation claim arising out of Russian invasion of Ukraine. Carlyle Aviation Partners, LLC v. American International Group UK, Ltd., et al, Case No. 2022-02857, 2025 WL 1592458 (Miami-Dade County, Florida Circuit Court, Complex Business Division)(June 4, 2025 Order and Final Summary Judgment in favor of Swiss Re International SE, Niederlassung Deutschland)
Represented Bolivian-American salesman of military and law enforcement equipment in FCPA prosecution and forfeiture proceeding arising out of multi-million dollar tear gas contract sold to the Bolivian government. United States v. Luis Berkman, Case No. 21-Cr-60258 (S.D.FL.)
Represented Board of Directors of national food franchise company in multi-million dollar derivative action, based on claims of breach of fiduciary duty and misrepresentation in corporate merger. Fassberg v. Preston, Case No. 2017-CA-010477-AA (Palm Beach County Circuit Court)
Defense of CEO accused of breach of fiduciary duties in connection with his termination of co-founders of Florida veterinary pharma company. Schafer v DiCrisci, Case No. 2017-021621 (Miami-Dade County Florida Circuit Court) (Defeated emergency motion for appointment of receiver; Secured court order forcing buyout of plaintiffs’ member interests pursuant to Florida Limited Liability Act; Secured summary judgment defeating plaintiffs’ multimillion-dollar wrongful termination claims)
Defeated federal RICO claim based on international alleged witness intimidation. Halvorssen v. Simpson, 328 F.R.D. 30 (E.D.N.Y. 2018) (Order requiring service through Hague Convention); 2019 WL 4023561 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 26, 2019)(Order dismissing complaint with prejudice);_ Fed.Appx. _, 2020 WL 1287789 (2d Cir. March 18, 2020) (Affirming dismissal of civil RICO claim)
Secured dismissal of multimillion-dollar trade secrets litigation for Uruguayan bankers. Biscayne Capital Holdings Limited, v William Kriz and Albana Rodriguez, Case No. 17-011109, 2018 WL 6067378 (Miami-Dade County, Florida Circuit Court)
Represented Orlando, Florida developer in compensation claim owed from development of $200 million of residential and commercial property. Robert A. Yeager v. Estate of John J. Brunetti, Sr., Case No. 2016 CA 009381 (Orange County, Florida Circuit Court)
Defended General Secretary of CONCACAF in the U.S. Department of Justice’s worldwide bribery investigation of FIFA
Defeated bidding challenge to multi-million dollar luggage wrapping contract at Miami International Airport for international joint venture, True Star, USA v. Miami-Dade County and Safe Wrap of Florida, JV, Case No. 16-026695, Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit, 2018 WL 1521880 (Mar. 21, 2018)(Order granting final summary judgment in favor of Miami-Dade County and Safe Wrap)
Defeated federal action for declaratory judgment filed by international securities brokerage firm seeking to deny $1 million severance payment to Argentinean banker; ICBC Standard Securities, Inc. v. Luzuriaga, 217 F.Supp.3d 733 (S.D.N.Y. 2016)(Order abstaining from exercising jurisdiction and denying anti-suit injunction); and 2015 WL 5827497 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 6, 2015)(Order denying motion for order to show cause for preliminary injunction)
Defeated federal trademark infringement action filed against German luggage manufacturer; BTG Patent Holdings, LLC v. Bag2Go, et al.,) 193 F.Supp.3d 1310 (S.D.FL. 2016)(Order granting motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and denying motion for preliminary injunction)
Secured, during trial, a $1 million valuation for 50-percent owner of Florida company in dissolution proceeding; Arango v. Sanchez, Case No. 15-11236 (Miami-Dade County, Florida Circuit Court)
Secured order setting aside $1.8 million jury verdict based on successor liability claim for insurance premiums; REWJB Dairy Plant Associates d/b/a Farm Stores v. Zenith Insurance Co., Case No. 99-2900, 2016 WL 730498 (Miami-Dade County, Florida Circuit Court)
Defeated $1 billion federal RICO claim based on alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; Reich v. Lopez, 38 F.Supp.3d 436 (S.D.N.Y. 2014)(Order dismissing RICO claims with prejudice); 2015 WL 1958878 (S.D.N.Y. April 30, 2015)(Order dismissing state law claims for lack of personal jurisdiction); 2015 WL 5999661 (Oct. 9, 2015)(Denying motion for leave to file second amended complaint); 858 F.3d 55 (2d Cir. 2017)(Affirming dismissal of case)
Defeated $200 million accounting malpractice claim; Mirabilis Ventures, Inc. v. Rachlin Cohen & Holtz, LLP, Case No. 6:09-CU-271-ORD-31 DAB; 2011 WL 3236027 (M.D.FL. July 28, 2011)(Order granting motion to exclude damages claim); and 2011 WL 2784105 (M.D.FL. July 14, 2011)(Order granting motion to exclude accounting expert)
Defeated $120 million civil RICO case against a private bank; Adams v. Rothstein, 2012 WL 1605098 (S.D.FL. May 8, 2012)(dismissing RICO claims)
Protected an international banker in a successful due process, name-clearing proceeding; Masvidal v. U.S. Department of Justice, 716 F. Supp. 2d 1207 (S.D.FL. 2010)
Defended court-appointed receiver in a federal criminal prosecution arising out of a multimillion-dollar embezzlement from fiduciary accounts; United States v. Lewis B. Freeman, Case No. 10-CR-2009-HUCK (S.D.FL.)
Defeated an action for receiver in a commercial foreclosure, leading to a $20 million refinancing; MBV Investment Holdings, LLC v. SkyPalace Development, LLC, Case No. 12-11203 (Miami-Dade County, Florida Circuit Court)
Prosecuted $90 million commercial foreclosure action for a community development district and bondholders; Grand Bay at Doral Community Development District v. Century Grand I, LLP, Case No. 11-11329 (Miami-Dade County, Florida Circuit Court)
Defeated an action for appointment of a receiver of $20 million hotel condominium, leading to the successful buy-out of minority owner; Jetfast Hotel, LLC v. Cabana Pelican Manager, LLC, Case No. 11-25346 (Broward County, Florida Circuit Court)
Recovered $47 million for victims of Cuban terrorism in execution proceedings against a New York bank holding Cuban assets; Weininger v. Castro, 462 F. Supp. 2d 457 (S.D.N.Y. 2006)
Defended commodities/foreign exchange dealer in multimillion-dollar federal fraud, tax evasion and forfeiture proceedings; United States v. Jeffrey Jedlicki; Case No. 08-60160-CIV-MARRA (S.D.FL.); Defeated IRS effort to set aside offer in compromise and to reassess taxes, Jedlicki v. C.I.R., Case No. 22G55-13L (U.S. Tax Court)
Trial counsel for an international bank in securing a multimillion-dollar judgment arising from a fraudulent transfer claim; Banco Intercontinental, S.A. v. Var Holdings, Inc., Case No. 06-22911 (Miami-Dade County, Florida Circuit Court), affirmed 51 So.3d 470 (Fla. 3d DCA 2011)
Trial counsel for a Ft. Lauderdale automobile dealer; secured jury trial verdict defeating civil RICO and punitive damages claims in $23 million conversion action by an international bank; Special Purpose Accounts Receivable Cooperative Corp. v Prime One Capital Company, LLC, Case No. 00-6410-CIV-MARA (S.D.FL.); see 202 F. Supp. 2d 1339 (S.D.FL. 2002)(opinion dismissing portions of civil RICO claim)
Defeated $2 billion civil RICO claims against director of failed Venezuelan and Miami banks; Banco Latino v. Gomez Lopez, 17 F.Supp. 2d 1327 (S.D.FL. 1998)(granting dismissal on forum non conveniens grounds for foreign claims) and 95 F. Supp. 2d 1327, 1328, n.1 (S.D.FL. 2000)(granting summary judgment on RICO claims)
Defeated the state of Florida in a multimillion-dollar grand theft prosecution against a Miami businessman; State v. Diaz, 814 So.2d 466 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002)(affirming dismissal of criminal charges)
Defeated $8 million disgorgement order for commodities broker; Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. Sidoti, 178 F.3d 1132 (11th Cir. 1999); see also 2003 WL 21349668 (S.D.FL. Apr. 21, 2003)(defeating CFTC attempt to incarcerate broker on contempt citation)
Secured probation sentence for corporate officer in prosecution arising out of the largest financial fraud in the history of the state of Wisconsin;United States v. Norman Lopresto (E.D.Wisc.); see United States v. Mankarious, 151 F. 3d 994 (7th Cir. 1998)(discussing criminal scheme)
Trial counsel for Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Inc. in Florida franchise and trademark litigation
