FORT LAUDERDALE — A Louisiana man is suing Complete Marine after a boat he purchased at a boat show did not meet quality standards.
John M. Cerniglia attended the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October 2022, with the intention of purchasing a NauticStar-branded boat for personal use, according to a complaint filed Oct. 31 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District at Fort Lauderdale.
David J. Giannone Inc. is doing business as Complete Marine.
The defendant represented the boat's MSRP as over $260,000 and assured Cerniglia of its excellent quality. After negotiations, Cerniglia agreed to a final purchase price of $180,116.10, which later increased to $182,029.36 due to undisclosed fees.
Upon payment, Cerniglia encountered issues when attempting to take possession of the boat in Pompano Beach.
Complete Marine informed him of a transducer problem and, upon his arrival, disclosed the boat's defects, stating it did not pass sea trials.
These defects were not previously disclosed to Cerniglia. Complete Marine promised repairs under warranty but failed to provide a specific timeline for resolution.
Despite Cerniglia's repeated requests and legal intervention, Complete Marine did not deliver the boat. Correspondence from Cerniglia's counsel received no response.
Cerniglia is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is represented by Aaron E. Schwartz of Capes, Sokol, Goodman & Sarachan in St. Louis, Mo.; and Jay Halpern of Halpern, Santos & Pinkert in Coral Gables.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District at Fort Lauderdale case number: 0:23-cv-62067