Peña Aleczander obtained a negotiated pretrial resolution for a Texas produce distributor in federal maritime litigation arising from a series of international shipments of perishable goods.
An ocean carrier sought to hold the client responsible for freight and related cargo charges associated with eight shipments transported from South America to the Port of Miami. The claimed charges included amounts connected to the movement, storage, inspection, disposal, and cleaning of the cargo and shipping containers. The client disputed that it had accepted the governing bills of lading or otherwise agreed to assume responsibility for those charges.
The defense developed the record concerning the roles of the shipper, consignee, carrier, and other commercial participants in the transactions. It also asserted claims against another company based on that company’s alleged undertaking to pay the disputed charges. Those issues were positioned for determination in a bench trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Before trial, the parties reached a negotiated resolution that concluded the dispute without the additional cost and uncertainty of adjudication. The terms of the resolution remain confidential.
Michael Saldaña represented the client as pro hac vice counsel alongside Florida local counsel Steven M. De Falco.