What We Know

Motor Vehicle Dealer Bonds: Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal Punts on Attorneys' Fees Issue

Wed Feb 15, 2017 Articles, Legal Alerts

Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal recently had the opportunity to provide much needed guidance on the issue of whether a statutory motor vehicle dealer bond caps the surety’s liability for plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees at the penal sum of the bond.  Unfortunately, the court found another issue to be dispositive and declined to rule on the attorneys’ fees issue. 

Southern District of Florida Upholds the Bond Pre-Claim Terms as Conditions Precedent to Filing a Claim Against a Surety

Wed Jan 4, 2017 Legal Alerts

In Arch Insurance Company v. John Moriarty & Associates of Florida, Inc., Case No. 1:15-cv-22403-RNS (S.D. Fla. December 12, 2016), Arch Insurance Company (“Arch”) sued John Moriarty & Associates of Florida, Inc. (“Moriarty”) seeking a declaration that there was no coverage under a performance-and-payment bond (“Bond”) that Arch issued on a project naming Moriarty as the obligee.  Moriarty was the general contractor and sought $995,239.83 from Arch, under the performance side of the Bond, related to alleged shortfalls of the subcontractor/principal.

Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal Finds Unsupported Expert Testimony Inadmissible under Daubert

Fri Sep 23, 2016 Legal Alerts

On September 14, 2016, Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed an $8 million verdict for the plaintiff in Crane Co. v. Delisle, finding that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting unreliable expert testimony upon which the plaintiff relied to prove causation. 2016 WL 4771438 (Fla. 4th DCA September 14, 2016).  The plaintiff alleged that the defendants’ asbestos-containing products were substantial contributing causes of his mesothelioma, and the plaintiff presented multiple experts to support this allegation. 

Middle District of Florida Judicially Expands Definition of Statutory Payment Bond

Mon Jul 18, 2016 Legal Alerts

Maschmeyer Concrete Co. of Fla. vs. American Southern Ins. Co., Case No. 6:15-cv-912-Orl-37KRS (M. D. Fla. 2016), involved a materialman’s claim against a payment bond for materials furnished to the bonded contractor on a City of Orlando concrete repair and construction project. 

Eleventh Circuit Affirms Surety's Rights Under Indemnity Agreement

Tue Sep 22, 2015 Legal Alerts, News

Today, in Fidelity & Deposit Company of Maryland vs. C.E. Hall, the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a surety, that has previously made a demand for collateral security upon its principal, which demand was refused by the principal, retains the right to settle the obligee’s claims..