IconBrickell Master Association, Inc., et al. v. IconBrickell, LLC, et al. (Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami, Fla.) (2014 – 2019).

Mr. Trauth again represented the IconBrickell Master Association along with two tower associations in a construction defect dispute against the project’s developer; various contractors and sub-contractors; as well as the architect and other design professionals. Damages were estimated to exceed $25 million for all three associations. After Mr. Trauth implemented a targeted and assertive litigation strategy, the matter was resolved very favorably on the eve of trial.

Jane Doe et al v. Bright Horizons Children’s Centers (Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (2014 – 2016).

Mr. Trauth represented Bright Horizons – a multi-national provider of child care services – in a case of alleged sexual abuse that was intensely covered in the media and consisted of highly volatile accusations. The plaintiff requested $50 million from the jury at the conclusion of a two-week trial but Mr. Trauth’s meticulous defense convinced them to award no more than $3 million. Mr. Trauth successfully resolved the litigation prior to appeal. This bellwether result leveraged favorable settlements of several related claims also defended by Mr. Trauth.

IconBrickell Master Association, Inc. v. Hoosiers Owners, LLC (Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami, Fla.) (2012 – 2015).

Mr. Trauth represented the IconBrickell – a large, upscale, multi-use development on Biscayne Bay – in a commercial dispute against a single-purpose subsidiary of a nationwide publicly-traded real estate investment trust, involving disputed ownership and rights to proceeds from the parking operation on the property. After a lengthy trial, Mr. Trauth convinced the jury to find in favor of the IconBrickell on all counts.

Gary Carroll v. TheStreet.com, et al. (Fifteenth Judicial Circuit/U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, West Palm Beach, Fla.) (2008 – 2014).

Mr. Trauth represented TheStreet.com – a publicly traded financial news and financial literacy website co-founded by CNBC’s Jim Cramer – in a high stakes defamation suit brought by an owner of local surgery centers. The hotly contested suit began in Florida Circuit Court before making its way to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida after a hedge fund with more than $12 billion dollars in assets under management was added as a defendant. The sophistication of the parties and potential financial and reputational exposure made for a “bet the company” type urgency in the litigation. Even Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal weighed in to uphold the journalist’s privilege in Case No. 4D09-2649. Despite the intensity of the litigation, Mr. Trauth was able to resolve the matter favorably on behalf of TheStreet.com without a trial.

Vista Golf, LLC v. Vista Royale Property Owners, et al. (Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Vero Beach, Fla.) (2008 – 2013).

Mr. Trauth represented a condominium association in dispute with a commercial landowner who sought to invalidate restrictive covenants related to property adjacent to the condominium so that an industrial park could be constructed. At the resulting trial, Mr. Trauth convinced the jury to find in favor of the association on all counts and defeated the landowner’s appeal to the Fourth District Court of Appeal as well.