Harold Saul and Nina Williams, from our Tampa office, successfully defended an insurance carrier in a Hurricane Nicole claim tried before a jury in St. Petersburg. The plaintiff sought a full roof replacement, but after less than two hours of deliberation, the jury awarded just a minimal amount for storm damage, which after deducting their deductible will be less than $2,500, well below the plaintiff’s last demand even below the defense’s final settlement offer. The defense successfully excluded all interior damage claims and demonstrated there was no storm-related roof damage, only water intrusion from deteriorated sealant around a solar panel pipe. The judge reserved ruling on a directed verdict motion that could reduce the award further, noting that case law supported the defense’s position.