Court of Appeal Affirms $13 Million Award for Holland & Knight Client
July 5, 2006
Stacy D. Blank- Tampa
Michael "Mike" Chapman- Tampa
Bradford Kimbro- Tampa
TAMPA, Fla. – Florida's Second District Court of Appeal recently
affirmed the award of more than $13 million in judgments against businessman
Stanley Tseng and his affiliates, in favor of Hung-Lin Wu, the Wu Trust, and
Winner Metals of Florida, LLC. The judgments were obtained last year by Holland
& Knight litigation partners Brad Kimbro and Mike Chapman at the conclusion of a
two-week business fraud trial in Hillsborough Circuit Court. Guy Spicola, a
former partner at Holland & Knight and well-respected trial lawyer and mediator,
also represented Wu as the senior member of Wu's trial team.
The three consolidated actions that were tried all related to fraud on the part of
Virginia businessman Stanley Tseng, an entrepreneur who started the "Bamboo Hut"
restaurant chain and numerous other businesses, in connection with the formation
of a scrap metal business that operated in the Port of Tampa. Wu alleged, and
trial court judge Sam D. Pendino determined, that Tseng defrauded Wu by
representing that certain assets of the new business venture cost $2.95 million,
when the actual cost was only $500,000. Tseng was found to have covered up the
fraud for years and later unilaterally transferred the company's assets to
another business that Tseng controlled.
"This was a case about a confidant who lied to our client. Mr. Wu's commitment to bringing
the truth to light ultimately led to a fair and just result. We are extremely
pleased for Mr. Wu," said Brad Kimbro. Mike Chapman added, "It took hard work
and commitment to bring justice in this case. We are delighted that the truth
has been uncovered, and Mr. Wu has been vindicated."
The matters raised by Stanley Tseng on appeal primarily involved entitlement to and
calculation of damages. All of these arguments were resolved in favor of Mr. Wu.
According to Stacy Blank, the Holland & Knight partner who handled the appeal on
behalf of Mr. Wu, "Mr. Tseng raised numerous issues on appeal. The appellate
court rejected those arguments and affirmed the trial court's decision. We are
very pleased with the result."
Contact: Susan Bass, (813) 769-4326