Yankwitt LLP secured a complete victory for its clients following a jury trial in the Southern District of New York, defeating claims seeking $1.2 million in damages for alleged unjust enrichment and quantum meruit.
The firm represented a respiratory mask inventor and manufacturer in a dispute arising from services the plaintiff alleged to have provided in connection with the development of certain products. Before trial, Yankwitt LLP substantially narrowed the case through successful motion practice, obtaining dismissal of most of the plaintiff’s claims. The plaintiff nevertheless chose to proceed to trial on the remaining equitable claims.
At trial, Yankwitt LLP demonstrated through documents and cross-examination that the plaintiff had sought compensation solely in the form of an ownership interest in the company and did not expect to be paid cash or any alternative form of payment. The evidence further showed that the company ultimately failed and ceased operations, and that the plaintiff failed to prove any value associated with the equity interest he claimed he was promised. In addition, the record showed that the plaintiff had not secured funding or made other contributions to support compensation for his services.
The jury returned a complete defense verdict. Although the jury found that the plaintiff expected compensation in the form of stock, it concluded that he failed to prove that the stock had any value or that he was entitled to compensation in any other form.
The outcome reflects Yankwitt LLP’s disciplined trial strategy: distilling the case to a straightforward issue and supporting it with the plaintiff’s own testimony, compelling the jury to decide in favor of the defense.