Property Law | Jury Verdicts & Settlements

Unconstitutional Land Dedication: Developer Wins $409,437

When Megladon, Inc. sought a routine building permit for a luxury home in the Village of Pinecrest, officials demanded a 7.5-foot strip of the developer's private land for a public right-of-way. Refusing to pay for the land, the Village held the permit hostage, leading to a high-stakes legal battle over "unconstitutional exactions." A federal jury eventually discovered that the Village maintained a systemic custom of forcing landowners to dedicate property without compensation. This landmark verdict held the municipality accountable for violating private property rights, resulting in a significant six-figure damages award for the developer.

Corporate Law

Jury Rules on Gran Logia de Cuba Leadership Dispute in Miami

For years, the Gran Logia de Cuba A.L. & A.M., Inc. served as a pillar for Miami’s Masonic community, but a 2019 decision to modernize the organization sparked a civil war. After a supermajority of members voted to join the "regular" Florida Masons, two rival factions—the Camejo Group and the Tandron Group—claimed total control of the lodge’s heritage, bank accounts, and its physical headquarters on NW 22nd Avenue. The Tandron Group seized the building and changed the locks, leading to a high-stakes legal battle over corporate authority. Following a five-day trial, a Miami-Dade jury determined that the 2019 vote was valid and that the Camejo Group was the legitimate Board of Directors. While the jury awarded only nominal damages for trespass, the verdict effectively ended the "rogue" takeover, restoring the lodge to the leaders chosen by its members and ensuring the organization’s future under the Grand Lodge of Florida.