MIAMI – A New Jersey foodstuff importer and an insurer allege a Miami cold storage facility owes them for the loss of vegetables.
Affiliated FM Insurance Co. and Camerican International Inc. filed a complaint on Feb. 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Dependable Warehousing and Distribution Inc. alleging violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that in February 2013, Camerican hired defendant to cold store its vegetables pending their sale to its customers. As a result of defendant's alleged negligence, 6,975 cases of vegetables thawed and spoiled, rendering them a total loss in the amount of $97,721.84.
The plaintiffs hold Dependable Warehousing and Distribution Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to recognize the refrigeration breakdown and take necessary steps to prevent temperature-related damage to the vegetables and refused to pay such damages.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek demand judgment against the defendant in the principal amount of $97,721.84, together with interest, attorneys’ fees, costs and disbursements, and such other just and proper relief. They are represented by Joseph W. Janssen III and Joseph W. Siracusa of Janssen, Siracusa & Keegan PA in West Palm Beach.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Case number 1:17-cv-20631