Lidda Perera & Francisco Perez v. Security First Insurance Company

Carl Bober and Evan Zuckerman (Hollywood, FL) (Property) obtained a defense verdict following a jury trial in Fort Lauderdale in the case of Lidda Perera & Francisco Perez v. Security First Insurance Company. The case concerned a first party property insurance claim related to a water loss allegedly causing damage throughout the residence, for which Security First had extended coverage. The trial involved a scope and pricing dispute, with the Plaintiffs seeking the full replacement of their kitchen cabinetry, as well as the replacement of drywall/baseboards/painting in several rooms of their home. Opposing counsel from the Strems firm had been demanding in excess of $100K to fully resolve the case. Plaintiff Lidda Perera claimed that the prior payment was insufficient to repair all of their damages, even though she had only made minimal repairs and had not used most of the money she had previously been paid. Plaintiff’s expert general contractor testified that the cost to properly compensate the Plaintiffs for their damages well-exceeded the prior payment. For the defense, Security First’s expert general contractor testified that the scope and price of the repairs allowed by Security First were appropriate, that no additional payment was required, and that he personally would have made the repairs for the amount previously paid for the loss. The jury found in favor of Security First in thirty minutes, finding that the Plaintiffs failed to prove that the cost to repair the water leak damages exceeded the amount already paid by Security First. Our motion to seek the recovery of Security First’s attorney’s fees and costs is pending.