Case Background
Manuel Esteban Cuza and Carmen J. Lorenzo lived in Miami-Dade County and shared a life that suddenly changed on a Saturday in October 2021. Before the collision, Manuel had been an active individual, and Carmen had enjoyed a life free from the physical limitations that would later define her daily routine. The two were traveling together in a 2016 Chevrolet, navigating the familiar lanes of NW 27th Avenue, unaware that their trip would end in a Courtroom years later.
Rene O. Gonzalez Zelaya, a resident of the same county, worked for Spiderman Tree Services LLC. On the day of the incident, he operated a 2007 GMC truck owned by the company. As he drove the commercial vehicle through the Miami-Dade streets, he acted as a representative of the tree service business. This professional relationship eventually placed both the driver and the business at the center of a legal battle over responsibility and safety on public roads.
Cause
The collision happened on October 9, 2021. As Manuel drove southbound on NW 27th Avenue with Carmen in the passenger seat, Rene Zelaya failed to maintain control of his vehicle. The Plaintiffs alleged that Zelaya drove negligently and disregarded his duty to operate the heavy GMC truck with reasonable care. This failure led to a violent impact between the two vehicles.
Injury
The crash left Manuel and Carmen with significant physical damage. Both Plaintiffs sustained serious bodily injuries that resulted in permanent handicaps and visible disfigurement. Beyond the physical wounds, the accident caused them deep mental anguish and a lasting loss of the capacity to enjoy their lives as they once had. They described a total shift in their quality of life, citing persistent pain and the inability to perform routine tasks without difficulty.
Damages Sought
Manuel and Carmen filed their lawsuit seeking financial relief for the heavy toll the accident took on their finances and well-being. They requested more than $30,000 each to cover the costs of the medical treatment they had already received and the care they would require for the rest of their lives. Additionally, they sought compensation for lost wages and the "non-economic" impact of their suffering, which included the emotional trauma and physical limitations caused by the permanent nature of their injuries.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Manuel Esteban Cuza | Carmen J. Lorenzo
· Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Devin Tison
Defendant(s): Rene O. Gonzalez Zelaya | Spiderman Tree Services LLC
· Counsel for Defendant(s): Raymond A. Calderin
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
Claims
The legal team for Manuel and Carmen argued that the crash was entirely preventable. They asserted that Rene Zelaya had been careless behind the wheel of a company vehicle. Because Zelaya was working for Spiderman Tree Services LLC at the time, the Plaintiffs argued the company was legally responsible for his actions. They claimed the business had a duty to ensure its drivers operated vehicles safely and that the company’s failure to do so directly caused the life-altering injuries the couple suffered.
Defense
The defense team denied that the Defendants were at fault for the accident. They argued that the Plaintiffs’ own actions might have contributed to the collision and suggested that Manuel and Carmen had not done enough to "mitigate" or minimize their damages after the fact. Furthermore, the defense challenged the severity of the injuries. They claimed that the Plaintiffs did not meet the "permanency" threshold required by Florida law, arguing that the injuries were not significant enough to justify the large sums of money requested for pain and suffering.
Jury Verdict
The trial concluded on September 30, 2025, in a Miami-Dade Courtroom. After listening to the testimony and reviewing the evidence, the jury sided with the Plaintiffs. They decided that the negligence of both Rene Zelaya and Spiderman Tree Services LLC was the direct cause of the harm. Crucially, the jury also found that both Manuel and Carmen had indeed suffered permanent injuries.
The Award for Manuel Esteban Cuza
The jury determined that Manuel deserved a total of $623,000.00 to account for his losses. They broke this down into several categories:
$98,000.00 for the medical bills he had already accumulated.
$150,000.00 for the medical care he would need in the future.
$125,000.00 for the pain and suffering he endured since the accident.
$250,000.00 for the pain and suffering he would continue to face for the rest of his life.
The Award for Carmen J. Lorenzo
The jury awarded Carmen a total of $178,000.00 for her specific injuries. Her compensation included:
$28,000.00 for her past medical expenses.
$50,000.00 for the medical treatment she would require in the future.
$25,000.00 for the pain and suffering she had experienced.
$75,000.00 for the future pain and suffering she would endure.
Judge Daryl E. Trawick signed the final judgments on October 15, 2025. The Court ordered that the Defendants pay the full amounts, plus interest at a rate of 8.65% per year until the debt was fully settled. The ruling brought a formal end to the couple’s four-year journey through the legal system.
