Representative Trial Court Experience

• In re: Joseph G. Gray v. Emerald View Association Management, LLC; Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Bay County, State of Florida Case No.: 2019 CA 003761. Lee and the current team at Strayhan & Strayhan successfully defended an employer in a recent jury trial that concluded on September 19, 2024. The claims asserted by Plaintiff/Mr. Gray were for racial discrimination based on: 1) a hostile work environment, 2) general race discrimination, and 3) retaliatory discharge on the basis of race discrimination. After a 4-day trial, the Jury found Defendant/Emerald View not guilty on all claims. The Jury reached a swift verdict and delivered their verdict in favor of our client and found that the Plaintiff’s alleged demotion and ultimate termination were not racially motivated and that he was not subjected to a hostile work environment based on racial discrimination.

• In re: Legacy Townhome Association, Inc. v. The Legacy Condominium Association, Inc., in the Circuit Court in and for Walton County, Florida, Case No. 2021CA000262. Lee successfully defended Legacy Condominium Association to protect its occupancy rights to its private beach. Following a 2-day bench trial that concluded on August 1, 2023, Lee secured a Final Judgment in favor of Legacy Condominium Association, granting its Counterclaim for a permanent injunction to enjoin misuse of a Beach Access Easement. All claims asserted by the Townhome Association were likewise successfully defended and denied by the trial court.

• In re: Seascape Phase II Association, Inc. v. Chemical Specialties, LLC; United States District Court/Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division: Case No.: 3-16-cv-00115-MCR; represented Chemical Specialties, LLC (“CSI”), a subsidiary of Huntsman International LLC. Answered directly to in-house counsel for Huntsman International LLC located in their office in Woodlands, Texas. Seascape Phase II Association, Inc. (“Seascape”) is a condominium association governing multiple buildings. Seascape brought suit against CSI seeking approximately $2,000,000.00 in damages allegedly associated defective pine shake roofing. Seascape sought damages related to multiple condominium buildings, including the costs associated with the replacement of the roofing and costs to repair structural damages to the buildings from conditions such as water leaks allegedly caused by the defective roofing. Seascape contended that the defects in the pine shake roofing were proximately caused by a chemical wood treating preservative manufactured by CSI. This matter traversed areas of toxic tort and contract law. Upon completion of the discovery period ordered by the Court and after extensive briefing by both sides, Lee successfully secured a judgment in favor of CSI, dismissing all of Seascape’s claims with prejudice via summary judgment.

• In re: Jonathan P. Roberts & Venus A. Roberts, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Proceeding in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division; hired as Special Counsel by the Chapter 7 Trustee to pursue collection of the Debtors’ assets for the bankruptcy estate.  Filed the Trustee’s Objection to Debtors’ Claimed Homestead Exemption pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 522(o)(4) of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Act of 2005.  Successfully conducted bench trial as special counsel for Bankruptcy Trustee. The Court issued a judgment in favor of the bankruptcy estate in the amount of $394,875.28 and the reported decision is cited as In re: Roberts, 527 B.R. 461 (Bankr. N.D. Fla. 2015).

• In re: Mary Louise Kalinowski, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Proceeding in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division; hired as Special Counsel by the Chapter 7 Trustee in the Debtors’ Bankruptcy matter to pursue collection of the Debtors’ assets for the bankruptcy estate. Filed the Trustee’s Objection to Debtors’ Claimed Homestead Exemption pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 522(o)(4) and secured a favorable settlement for the bankruptcy estate.

• In re: Gail Silvers, Karrie & Company (Complainant) v. Karen Smith, Beachy Beach 30A, LLC, et al. (Respondents); successfully defended an arbitration and secured award in favor of the defense, saving a real estate brokerage and agent from having to pay 50% of their significant commission to the competing claim asserted by another broker/realtor under the doctrine of procuring cause.

• In re: David W. Hill, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Proceeding in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida, Panama City Division. In the lead bankruptcy proceeding, conducted detailed investigation and discovery of financial records. This investigation lead to an extensive 2004 Examination of Debtor over several days which culminated in the finding of significant assets concealed by Debtors through various means and transactions. As a result, an adversary proceeding was then filed on behalf of a lending institution to pursue claims of fraudulent transfers and providing false statements under oath. As a result of this work, a favorable settlement for the bankruptcy estate was successfully secured in favor of all creditors whereby substantial assets were distributed to creditors.

• Condominiums at Waterside Village, LLC, Developer of Condominiums at Waterside Village, a Florida Condominium, successfully represented condominium developer by resolving twenty-one (21) separate disputes between the developer and purchasers involving the enforcement of purchase and sale contracts for condominium units, including two (2) separate lawsuits, one of which proceeded to trial, as noted immediately below.

• Furnish, et. al v. Condominiums at Waterside Village, LLC, Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Bay County, State of Florida; trial attorney at bench trial, successfully defending claims brought against developer of condominium and prosecuted counterclaims on behalf of the developer in a case involving multiple purchasers and contracts for the purchase and sale of four (4) separate condominiums. Plaintiffs filed Complaint for damages and attorney’s fees arguing that Plaintiffs rightfully voided certain Purchase and Sale Agreements under Section 718.503 of the Florida Statutes on the grounds that the Amended Condominium Documents materially alter or modify the offering in a manner adverse to Plaintiffs. Following trial and extensive post-trial briefing, secured a judgment in favor of the developer entitling developer to retain significant earnest money deposits as liquidated damages, as well as an award for attorneys’ fees and costs.

• Sterling Breeze, LLC, Developer of Sterling Breeze, a Florida Condominium, successfully represented a condominium developer by resolving numerous disputes between the developer and purchasers involving the enforcement of purchase and sale contracts for condominium units. The claims included both state and federal laws related to condominium development and real estate, including, but not limited to, the Interstate Lands Sales Act, the Florida Condominium Act, and the Florida Administrative Code. The issues included, but were not limited to, the construction completion obligation of the developer was a material modification to the Condominium Documents and adverse to the purchaser. This representation included the successful resolution of seven (7) lawsuits in Florida state courts, involving competing claims for breach of contractual and statutory obligations between the developer and purchasers.

• Reflections Spa & Resort, LLC, Developer of Reflections Spa & Resort, a Florida Condominium; successfully represented the condominium developer by resolving numerous disputes between the developer and purchasers involving the enforcement of purchase and sale contracts for condominium units. This representation included the successful resolution of a lawsuit in Florida state court involving competing claims for breach of obligations between the developer and purchaser under the contract.

• Hammond v. Santoro, et al., Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Bay County, State of Florida; successfully co-defended a maritime personal injury case along with partner, Jeremy Branning, before a jury trial which resulted in a zero verdict by the jury in favor of the defense.

• McInnis v. Parker Drilling Company, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana; successfully defended oil drilling company from a personal injury lawsuit involving disabling permanent injuries to Plaintiff for which he had undergone multiple level fusion surgeries to the cervical and lumbar spine. We successfully secured a zero verdict at trial in favor of the defense of an oil drilling company from damages under the Jones Act.

• Peoples First Community Bank v. Long Beach Assembly of God, et al.; Circuit Court of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Bay County, State of Florida. Served as first chair in a bench trial on behalf of Bethel Community Holiness Church, Inc., defending and prosecuting claims against The West Florida District Council Assemblies of God, Inc. involving a church property dispute.

• Coto, et al. v. McDermott, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana; I served second chair in prolonged personal injury trial (several months) involving barge sinking during hurricane.

• Joseph Harrison v. Supreme Sugar et al., 23rd Judicial District Court for the Parish of Assumption, State of Louisiana; served as second chair in trial in defense of employer from a suit brought by employee for fraudulent inducement into employment and/or detrimental reliance on permanent employment position.

• Bianchini v. New Orleans Rugby Football Club, et al., 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana; successfully secured a judgment dismissing a premises liability action which resulted in dismissal of all personal injury claims against client, which included claim for damages for a surgically repaired knee to a high school student. This judgment also resulted in securing the City of Kenner’s agreement to dismiss its claim for defense and indemnity against the client for damages associated with the claimant’s personal injury.

• Cancienne v. N&N Properties, 17th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Lafourche, State of Louisiana; successfully secured a judgment in favor of client dismissing all claims against client arising out of a premises liability lawsuit for damages associated with a serious personal injury claim, including a heart attack, sustained by an A/C repairman as a result of electrical shock.

• Darryl Matt v. ANR Pipeline, et al., 16th Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Mary, State of Louisiana; successfully secured a judgment in favor of client dismissing a personal injury action.

• James Mouton v. Parker Drilling Company, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; successfully secured a judgment in favor of client dismissing a serious personal injury action based upon worker status.

• Walter Daniels v. Boland Marine, et al., 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana; successfully secured a judgment in favor of client dismissing all claims of liability against client/insurer on the basis of insurance coverage for a personal injury action.