Past Case Results From Isicoff Ragatz
Lord v. University of Miami
The Firm represented a university health system in a retaliation lawsuit under the False Claims Act brought by the former Chief Operating Officer. Following a lengthy trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the university, and the District Court entered Judgment in favor of the university based on that verdict. Thereafter, the former Chief Operating Officer moved for a new trial and/or judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Following full briefing, the District Court denied the motion. The Chief Operating Officer appealed to the Eleventh Circuit, which affirmed.
No. 23-10526, 2024 WL 3385796 (11th Cir. July 12, 2024)
Calcaterra v. Baptist Health South Florida, Inc.
The Firm represented a private hospital system and a physician group in a lawsuit brought by the former Chief of Cardiac Surgery, who challenged his termination under the Florida Private-Sector Whistleblower Act and the federal False Claims Act. For strategic reasons, the Firm removed the case to federal court and moved to compel arbitration pursuant to an Employment Agreement between the former Chief and the physicians group. Although the hospital system was not a party to the Employment Agreement, the Firm argued that the former Chief’s claims against the hospital system were subject to the arbitration provision in the Employment Agreement pursuant to the doctrine of equitable estoppel. Following a full briefing, the District Court adopted the Firm’s arguments and compelled arbitration of all claims.
No. 1:23-CV-20364-KMM, 2024 WL 2109349 (S.D. Fla. May 9, 2024)
Fayad v. University of Miami
The Firm represented a university hospital system in a lawsuit brought by a former physician, who challenged the University’s decision to consolidate practice lines and adopt new standards for patient care. A jury awarded the physician approximately $2.8 million in damages. The university moved for a new trial, arguing inter alia that the physician’s lawyer made improper and prejudicial statements during closing arguments, which inflamed the jury and warranted a new trial; the university also moved for a directed verdict based on the physician’s failure to adduce sufficient evidence to support his claims. The trial court granted a new trial, and both sides appealed. Following full briefing and oral argument, the Third District Court of Appeal ruled for the university on all grounds, resulting in entry of final judgment for the university and a potential award of attorneys’ fees and costs of nearly $1 million.
No. 3D22-1898, 2024 WL 2035598 (Fla. 3d DCA May 8, 2024)
Cabrera v. Bloom
The Firm represent a seller/landlord in a lease-to-purchase dispute with a buyer/tenant over farmland in Homestead. The tenant/buyer sued the seller/landlord seeking an extension of time to close on the purchase due to a fraudulent quit claim deed on the property. The seller/landlord counter-sued to evict the tenant/buyer for his failure to close under the title defect provisions of the purchase-and-sale agreement at issue. On a full summary judgment record, the trial court ruled for the seller/landlord on all claims, counterclaims and defenses.
No. 2022-020688-CA-01 (Fla. 11th Jud. Cir. Mar. 5, 2024)
100 Emerald Beach Way LC v. Thornton
The Firm represented husband–and–wife property owners of a large, oceanfront estate in Palm Beach in a longstanding dispute with their neighbor. In this lawsuit, the neighbor asserted a series of claims arising out of an ingress-and-egress easement on the husband and wife’s private property. Following extensive briefing, the trial court adopted the Firm’s arguments, dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice and alternatively entered summary judgment against the neighbor on all claims. The court found that the neighbor’s claims were time-barred by the statute of limitations and legally-barred under various preclusion doctrines, as the neighbor could have litigated and actually did litigate these claims in prior proceedings.
No. 50-2023-CA-10818 (AI). 2024 WL 746210 (Fla. 15th Jud. Cir. Ct. Feb. 20, 2024)
Rifkin & Fox-Isicoff, P.A. v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
The Firm represented an immigration law firm in a Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) case. After the client received an insufficient response to its FOIA request, the Firm was engaged to bring suit under FOIA for the release of the information sought. The lawsuit resulted in the release of the requested documents, and the Magistrate Judge recommended that the Firm be awarded its attorneys’ fees and costs in bringing the case. Thereafter, USCIS agreed to pay $31,500.00 to resolve the fee and cost claim.
No. 1:22-CV-24204-KMM, 2024 WL 619328 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 13, 2024)
Rocha v. Baptist Health South Florida
The Firm represented a healthcare conglomerate in a class action brought by a patient claiming that he had been improperly billed for emergency medical expenses that related to a workers compensation case. The patient brough claims alleging a violation of the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act. The patient sought to assert such claims on behalf of himself and a class of other patients who he alleged to be similarly situated. The state court granted summary judgment for the healthcare conglomerate on the basis that the patient lacked standing to bring such a suit because he had suffered no concrete injury.
No. 2020-CA-004343 (11th Jud. Cir. Ct. Oct. 9, 2023)
Dixon v. University of Miami
The Firm represented a private university in a class action brought by students, which challenged the university’s decision to close on-campus facilities and transition to remote/on-line learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The District Court entered summary judgment in favor of the university on all claims, adopting the university’s arguments that (1) the university had the contractual right to made those changes and (2) the university was not unjustly enriched in doing so. That decision was affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in a lengthy, published opinion.
75 F.4th 1204 (11th Cir. 2023)
Florida International University v. Alexandre
The Firm represented a public university in a class action brought by students, which challenged the university’s decision to close on-campus facilities and transition to remote/on-line learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The university moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing inter alia that the claims were barred by sovereign immunity. The state court denied the motion. The university appealed that ruling, and the Third District Court of Appeal reversed, finding that the claims were barred by sovereign immunity.
365 So. 3d 436 (Fla. 3d DCA 2023)
Bueno v. University of Miami
The Firm represented a private university in a lawsuit brought by a former student. The student alleged that the university had reported (and failed to correct) inaccurate information to a credit reporting agency and sought damages under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida dismissed the lawsuit, with prejudice, for failure to state a claim, adopting the arguments advanced by the Firm.
No. 22-22831-CIV, 2023 WL 3093614 (S.D. Fla. Apr. 26, 2023)
Bell v. Baptist Hospital of Miami
The Firm represented a private hospital in a discrimination lawsuit brought by four former employees. The Firm moved to dismiss for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, as the employees failed to exhaust their administrative remedies for their claims pursuant to the hospital’s internal grievance procedures. The Court adopted the Firm’s arguments and dismissed the case.
No. 2020-CA-025689 (11th Jud. Cir. Ct. Jan. 3, 2023)
100 Emerald Beach Way LC v. Thornton
The Firm represented husband–and–wife property owners of a large, oceanfront estate in Palm Beach in a dispute with their neighbor over the scope of a recorded easement. The neighbor claimed that the easement, which provided for “ingress and egress,” also included the right to stop or park temporarily on the easement and the right to place trash and lawn debris on the easement for collection. The Firm argued that the easement provided solely for ingress and egress. The trial court found that the easement provided solely for ingress and egress, and the trial court permanently enjoined any other use. The trial court also found the neighbor in contempt for violating its easement rulings. The neighbor appealed, and the Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed both rulings.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. University of Miami
The Firm represented a private university in a lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) and a professor. Plaintiffs alleged that the university violated the Equal Pay Act and Title VII by paying her less than a male professor within her Department. The Firm defended the claims on two main grounds: (1) that the two professors did not perform the same job and (2) that the pay differential was not based on sex but, rather, was based on market forces, experience, reputation, impact in their respective fields and/or job performance. Following a five-day jury trial, the jury rejected the Plaintiffs’ claims and returned a complete verdict in favor of the university. Thereafter, the Court awarded the University its costs incurred during suit.
No. 19-23131-CIV, 2022 WL 808339 (S.D. Fla. Mar. 11, 2022)
Forbes v. Millionaire Gallery, Inc.
The Firm represented a designer, manufacturer and seller of memorabilia pieces that depict celebrities, musicians, athletes and historic figures and events. A team of three employees resigned from the Firm’s client and opened a directly-competing business using the client’s confidential, proprietary and trade-secret information. The Firm brought claims against the three employees and their business for breach of contract, unfair competition, violation of Florida’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act and breach of fiduciary duty. Following a jury trial in February-March 2018, the jury found in favor of the Firm’s client on all claims and awarded nearly $500,000.00 in damages on each claim. Because the Defendants’ misappropriation of trade secrets was willful and malicious, the Court also awarded the Firm’s client exemplary damages (double damages) and attorneys’ fees. Ultimately, the trial court entered judgment in the total amount of $1,517,070.46 against all Defendants, jointly and severally. To prevent future misappropriation and unfair competition, the trial court entered a permanent injunction that prohibits Defendants from using any of the Firm’s client’s confidential, proprietary and trade-secret information. One of the Defendants appealed, and the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed in a written opinion.
335 So. 3d 1260 (Fla. 3d DCA 2022)
Golden v. University of Miami
The Firm represented a private university in a breach of contract lawsuit brought by its former head football coach, who was terminated prior to the expiration of his operative employment agreement. The coach claimed that he was entitled to a $6 million buyout payment pursuant to his interpretation of the agreement’s buyout provision. The university filed a counterclaim for declaratory relief, which asked the Court to declare that the agreement’s plain language entitled the coach to a buyout of $2 million. Following discovery, the Firm moved for final summary judgment on all claims. The Court agreed with the university’s position and held that the coach was entitled to nothing more than the $2 million buyout provided for by the agreement.
No. 1:18–CV–24414, 2020 WL 6482197 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 1, 2020)
In re: Miami Neurological Institute, LLC
The Firm represented a private university against claims brought by the bankruptcy trustee of an insolvent neurosurgical practice seeking to recover tuition payments made by the debtor to the university for certain of the debtor’s executives to attend the university’s executive MBA program in the healthcare sector.
The trustee’s theory of the case was that the debtor had paid personal expenses of the executives for which the debtor received no value. The university’s theory of the case was that the university’s MBA program provided value both to the executives and to their employer, the debtor. After a bench trial, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled in favor of the university, finding that the university’s MBA program did, in fact, provide reasonably equivalent value to the debtor.
No. 17-10703-BKC-RAM, 2020 WL 3410182 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. June 19, 2020)
Goldberg v. Florida International University
The Firm represented a public university in a lawsuit brought by a former student enrolled in its medical school. The student alleged that the medical school failed to accommodate his disability and dismissed him from school in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The medical school contended that it properly accommodated the student and dismissed him solely because of his poor academic performance. Following extensive discovery and briefing, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida entered summary judgment in favor of the medical school on all claims. The student appealed, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the grant of summary judgment.
838 Fed. Appx. 487 (11th Cir. 2020)
Doe v. University of Miami
The Firm represented a private university in a lawsuit brought by a former student. The student brought claims under Title IX and the Rehabilitation Act, alleging that the university failed to respond adequately after she reported that she had been sexually assaulted by another student. The university contended that it promptly and properly responded to the student’s report. Following extensive discovery and briefing, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida entered summary judgment in favor of the university on all claims.
No. 17-23408-CIV, 2020 WL 1129322 (S.D. Fla. Mar. 5, 2020)
Lee v. Florida International University
The Firm represented a public university in a certiorari proceeding brought by an undergraduate student, who challenged the university’s decision to suspend him for two years. Following full briefing and oral argument, the Appellate Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court denied the student’s petition for writ of certiorari and affirmed the university’s disciplinary decision.
No. 19-000040-AP (Fla. 11th Cir. Ct. Sept. 11, 2019)
Nelson v. Zimmerman Advertising, LLC
The Firm represented an advertising agency in a lawsuit brought by a former executive, who claimed that he was fired in retaliation for his alleged refusal to falsify a client proposal and that he was owed commissions under his employment agreement.
Following discovery, the Firm moved for summary judgment on all claims, arguing that the employee properly had been terminated due to performance issues and was not owed any commissions. The Court granted the motion and entered summary judgment in favor of the advertising agency on all claims.
No. 12-015899 (Fla. 17th Cir. Ct. Sept. 4, 2019)
Blake Tishman, P.A. v. Baptist Health South Florida
The Firm represented a healthcare conglomerate in a class action brought by a chiropractor asserting that certain facsimile broadcasts violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The Firm developed strong evidence that the many of the recipients of the faxes consented to receive such messages. Based on this evidence and the prevailing law on consent under the TCPA, the magistrate judge recommended that class certification be denied. Thereafter, the matter was amicably resolved.
No. 0:17-cv-62230 (S.D. Fla. June 10, 2019)
Benefit Administrative Systems v. West Kendall Baptist Hospital
The Firm represented several hospitals in a lawsuit against an ERISA-plan administrator, which had not paid outstanding balances of certain plan beneficiaries. Despite being served with the lawsuit, the administrator failed to respond, and a default judgment was entered. Thereafter, the hospitals sought to collect on the judgment and froze the administrator’s bank accounts. The administrator then moved to set aside the default judgment. Following an evidentiary hearing, the Court denied the administrator’s motion. That ruling was affirmed by the Third District Court of Appeal.
274 So. 3d 480 (Fla. 3d DCA 2019)
Drisin v. Florida International University
The Firm represented a public university and several high-level executives/administrators in a lawsuit brought by a tenured professor, who challenged his termination. The District Court entered summary judgment against the professor, finding that his due process, equal protection and gender discrimination claims failed as a matter of fact and law.
No. 16-24939-CIV, 2019 WL 289581 (S.D. Fla. Jan. 17, 2019)
In re Leonard Frankel Trust
The Firm represented a trust beneficiary in a dispute involving his three adult siblings. The four siblings previously had entered into an agreement, pursuant to which the Firm’s client was entitled to receive $1,000,000.00 from the sale of a building. Following the sale, the three siblings objected to the disbursement of the $1,000,000.00, alleging that their agreement was unenforceable due to coercion, duress, prior material breach and lack of consideration. The Firm filed a motion to enforce the agreement. Following a multiday evidentiary hearing, the Circuit Court rejected the siblings’ defenses, granted the Firm’s motion and awarded the $1,000,000.00, plus taxable costs, to the Firm’s client.
No. 04-3389-CP (Fla. 11th Cir. Ct. Nov. 13, 2018)
Lipcon, Margulies, Alsina & Winkleman, P.A. v. Gutierrez
The Firm represented two law firms and their client in an attorneys’ fee lien dispute brought by the client’s former lawyers. The client’s former lawyers claimed entitlement to a portion of a contingency fee generated from representing the client, even though the client had discharged her former lawyers several years prior. The Firm successfully defended against the lien claim. Meanwhile, the former lawyers filed a separate lawsuit, in which they sought a portion of the contingency fee under multiple contractual and tort theories. The Firm obtained summary judgment on all claims based on the defenses of res judicata and collateral estoppel. The former lawyers appealed both decisions, but the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower courts’ rulings.
256 So. 3d 862 (Fla. 3d DCA 2018)
DePrince v. Starboard Cruise Services, Inc.
The Firm represented a company that operates jewelry boutiques on cruise ships. While on a cruise, the plaintiff entered the boutique and requested a price quote to purchase a 20-carat loose diamond. The store clerk mistakenly quoted the total price as $235,000.00. That, however, was the per-carat price; the actual total price of the diamond was nearly $5,000,000.00. The plaintiff, who was accompanied by a certified gemologist, purchased the diamond for the misquoted price, and the boutique canceled the sale a few days later upon realizing the mistake. The plaintiff brought a breach-of-contract claim against the boutique, seeking to enforce the sale. The Firm asserted the affirmative defense of unilateral mistake. Following a weeklong trial in April 2016, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Firm’s client based on its defense of unilateral mistake. Final judgment was entered in favor of the Firm’s client, and the plaintiff appealed. After protracted appellate proceedings, the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment and, in accordance with the Firm’s arguments, clarified Florida law in a unanimous en banc opinion.
271 So. 3d 11 (Fla. 3d DCA 2018)
Haas Automation, Inc. v. Fox
The Firm represented two married couples who attempted to sell their oceanfront homes in Golden Beach through an auction. The high bidder at the auction later reneged on its high bid and refused to purchase the homes. The Firm brought claims against the bidder for breach of contract and declaratory relief, seeking to retain the $1,000,000.00 deposit that had been placed by the bidder in order to be eligible to bid at the auction. Following a bench trial in April 2016, the court concluded that the Firm’s clients were entitled to the $1,000,000.00 deposit, plus interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. The bidder appealed, and the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed, resulting in a recovery of more than $1,400,000.00 for the Firm’s clients.
243 So. 3d 1017 (Fla. 3d DCA 2018)
ETW Corp. v. Gotta Have It Golf, Inc.
The Firm represented a sports memorabilia distributor in extensive litigation with the corporate entities through which Tiger Woods and other professional golfers conduct their business affairs. The memorabilia distributor had a license agreement with Tiger Woods’ company, pursuant to which he was required to autograph a certain number of items per year. Midway through the term of that agreement, Woods stopped signing. The Firm brought claims for breach of contract, breach of the duty of good faith and dealing and violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The case proceeded to a jury trial. Following a seven-day trial, the jury found in favor of the Firm’s client on all claims, ultimately resulting in a judgment of over $1,200,000.00. That judgment later was affirmed by the Third District Court of Appeal.
Following that victory, the Firm moved for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs against Woods’ company. The trial court awarded more than $800,000.00. Woods appealed, but the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the fee and cost award. In addition, the Third District Court of Appeal awarded the Firm’s client its appellate attorneys’ fees and costs, resulting in an additional $50,000.00 for the client.
185 So. 3d 537 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015) and 227 So. 3d 586 (Fla. 3d DCA 2017)
Gentry Technology of South Carolina, Inc. v. Baptist Health South Florida, Inc.
The Firm represented a healthcare conglomerate in a case brought by a communications engineering company, which arose out of the installation and maintenance of a digital satellite distribution system. The communications company brought claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, conversion, theft of services, fraudulent concealment, and civil conspiracy. After the district court dismissed most of the company’s claims, the Firm moved for summary judgment on the remaining claims of unjust enrichment and civil conspiracy. The district court granted the Firm’s motion and entered summary judgment in favor of the Firm’s client on all remaining claims. The communications company moved for reconsideration, which the district court denied.
No. 1:14-CV-02127-JMC, 2016 WL 403879 (D.S.C. Feb. 3, 2016)
Meyer v. Health Management Associates, Inc.
The Firm represented a corporate compliance officer in a wrongful termination lawsuit under Florida’s Private-Sector Whistleblower’s Act against his former employer, a national healthcare corporation. After the Firm defeated the employer’s motion for summary judgment, the case was resolved amicably through a confidential settlement. In addition to that lawsuit, the Firm also brought a qui tam action under the False Claims Act against its client’s former employer. The United States later intervened in the qui tam action. This matter generated national media attention, including a segment on CBS News’ 60 Minutes entitled “The Cost of Admission” (first aired December 2, 2012).
No. CACE 11-25334 (19) (Fla. 17th Cir. Ct.) and United States ex rel. Paul Meyer v. Health Mgmt. Assocs., Inc., No. 11-62445-CIV (S.D. Fla.)
Bio-Engineered Supplements & Nutrition, Inc. v. Muscle Elements, Inc.
The Firm successfully represented a manufacturer of sports nutrition products in a lawsuit against five former employees who opened a directly-competing business. During their employment, the former employees had access to their employer’s confidential and proprietary information, which they later used to aid their new business. The Firm brought several claims, including breach of non-compete agreements and trade-secret misappropriation, and sought entry of a preliminary injunction. Following a two-day evidentiary hearing, the Circuit Court for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida entered a comprehensive preliminary injunction against the former employees, which enjoined them from utilizing their former employer’s proprietary information and from operating their new business for more than seven months.
No. 502013CA013954XXXXMB (Fla. 15th Cir. Ct. Sept. 25, 2013)
University of Miami v. Great American Assurance Company
The Firm successfully represented the University of Miami in an important matter of first impression in Florida. After a young child claimed to have suffered serious injury while attending a summer swim camp hosted on the University’s property, the child’s parents sued both the camp and the University. The camp was insured under a general liability policy issued by Great American Assurance Company, and the University was an additional insured on that policy. Despite the fact that each co-defendant alleged that it was relieved from liability based on the negligence of the other, Great American refused to provide the University separate and independent legal counsel. The University retained the Firm to provide independent counsel and filed a declaratory action for indemnification of attorneys’ fees and costs based on breach of the insurance policy and bad faith. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Great American, and the University appealed. The Third District Court of Appeal reversed that judgment, holding that the two insureds’ allegations of negligence created a conflict that required the insurer to provide separate and independent counsel for each.
112 So. 3d 504 (Fla. 3d DCA 2013)
Gulf Group Holdings, Inc. v. Coast Asset Management Corporation
The Firm represented a tax deed purchasing agent in a breach-of-contract lawsuit against a hedge fund investor. Following a week-and-a-half long jury trial, the Firm obtained a complete plaintiff’s verdict in excess of $20.6 million for its client.