Because bankruptcy court isn’t known for juries, Miami attorney Jeffrey Bast of Bast Amron went 25 years without handling a jury trial. That is, until two came along at once during a business dispute, which culminated in a Texas appellate court affirming a $3 million award–and his client recovering the full amount after four years of litigation.

It’s a case that could offer a lesson on advising strong-willed clients about the risks of trial, as a $1.6 million attorney fee award and more than $350,000 in interest, costs and sanctions rivaled the underlying $2 million judgment.