White & Case secures US$131 million victory for The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Global law firm White & Case LLP has secured a victory for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Florida's Third District Court of Appeal. The court upheld the US$131 million judgment against three defendants who conspired in a decades-long scheme to defraud the Republic during the construction of the Piarco International Airport. The appellate court cited "voluminous record evidence" supporting the jury's verdict. The court also rejected arguments challenging the applicability of Florida's Civil RICO statute and confirmed that the Republic suffered domestic injury due to the scheme.

"This is a significant milestone in a complex, long legal battle spanning more than two decades," said Raoul Cantero, who co-led the White & Case Litigation team. "The decision showcases the strength of our trial team, and we're delighted to have this case affirmed for the Republic."

The trial was based on two RICO claims, a common law fraud claim and a conspiracy to commit fraud claim. After a three-and-a-half week trial in March 2023, the jury returned a verdict for the Republic on all claims. After trebling the damages as provided by the RICO statute, adding prejudgment interest and accounting for setoffs, the trial court entered a final judgment in the amount of approximately US$131.3 million for the Republic.

All three defendants appealed the final judgment to the Third District Court of Appeal in two different appeals that the appellate court ordered should travel together. Both appeals raised issues of standing and challenged the applicability of the Florida Civil RICO statute to the claims.

The White & Case Appellate Litigation team was led by Raoul Cantero, Jim Robinson and Ryan Ulloa (all in Miami), with associates Wyatt Smith, Torri Macarages (both in New York), Shravya Govindgari, Zoe Stein and Alejandra Sanchez (all in Miami).

Earlier this year, the same White & Case team also secured a victory in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County in a final judgment awarding the Republic its attorney's fees and costs incurred in the twenty years of litigating the case.

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