Law Assignment Repository: Civil Litigation

[vampiricprose]

 

Part I

Legal Focus: Discovery

A Miami t-shirt company, BayPrint Designs, hired a local courier service to deliver a large order to a beachside hotel for a big event. The shirts arrived late and damaged, and BayPrint lost the contract. They sued the courier for breach of contract. During discovery, BayPrint requested delivery logs, text messages, and photos of the packages. The courier claimed they followed instructions, but the delivery records showed delays and rough handling. This new evidence supported BayPrint’s claim and helped move the case forward toward trial.

Legal Focus: Personal Jurisdiction

A Tampa-based swimwear company, GulfGlow Apparel, ordered custom fabric from a small manufacturer in Nevada. When the fabric arrived weeks late and in the wrong color, GulfGlow sued the manufacturer in Florida court. The Nevada company tried to get the case dismissed, claiming they shouldn’t have to go to court in Florida. But GulfGlow showed that the manufacturer had done business with several Florida companies, advertised on Florida social media pages, and shipped directly to Florida addresses. Because of these ongoing business ties, the court ruled it had personal jurisdiction over the Nevada company.

Legal Focus: Motion for Summary Judgment

ClearCoast Landscaping, a business in Sarasota, Florida, was sued by a former customer who claimed they damaged his property during a backyard renovation. ClearCoast denied the claim and said the damage already existed. After discovery, ClearCoast filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing there was no real dispute because the customer’s own inspection report, done before the project, mentioned the same damage. Since there were no new facts to argue at trial, ClearCoast asked the judge to decide the case right away without going to court. The judge agreed and ruled in ClearCoast’s favor.

Legal Focus: Pretrial Brief

Sunshine Solar, a renewable energy company in Orlando, was sued by a supplier over unpaid invoices. Before the trial, Sunshine’s lawyers prepared a pretrial brief for the court. This document summarized the key facts, explained why Sunshine believed it did not owe the money, and outlined the legal arguments they planned to present at trial. The pretrial brief helped the judge understand the case issues and guided the upcoming trial, focusing on whether the contract was properly fulfilled.

Part II: Southern Owners Insurance Company v. Galati Yacht Sales, LLC (2023)

Who:

• An insurance company (Southern Owners Insurance)

• A boat seller company (Galati Yacht Sales)

• A subcontractor and its owner (Jefferson Foraker)

What happened?:

Southern Owners Insurance said it didn’t have to pay or defend Galati Yacht Sales for injuries the Jefferson Foraker got while working. They went to court to decide if the insurance should cover those injuries.

Where:

Middle District Court in Florida

Stage:

After discovery but before the trial, SOI and GYS asked the judge to decide the case early (summary judgment).

Legal question:

• Did the injury happen while working for the contractor, so the insurance has to pay?

• Does the insurance have to defend Galati Yacht Sales in the lawsuit?

• Are there still facts that need to be decided before paying?

Why it’s important:

This case shows how courts decide if insurance covers a certain injury, especially with many companies involved. It also shows how judges can sometimes decide cases early without a full trial.

Link to Fictional Scenario:

Just like in my story about ClearCoast Landscaping, where the company asked the court to decide the case early, this real case also used a motion for summary judgment to try to end the case quickly. However, unlike my story, the judge granted the contractor’s motion in part and the insurer’s not at all.