A team of Carlton Fields litigators representing a South Florida franchisee that rose up against their New York franchiser with nepotism allegations have prevailed with a $700,000 arbitration award that, with attorney fees and costs factored in, totals almost $1.6 million.

It was a case that accused Caribbean restaurant chain Golden Krust Franchising Inc. of violating Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by giving preferential fees and pricing to family members of its founder Lowell Hawthorne. And plaintiffs attorneys found it served as somewhat of a poster child for using online platforms to simplify litigation.