A South Florida circuit court entered a final judgment and award for attorney fees exceeding $20 million against a landlord accused of hiring a private investigator to impersonate a hotel guest and make multiple false noise complaints to deceive local government authorities.

Plaintiff’s counsel, Steven M. Ebner and Jamie B. Wasserman, partners at Shutts & Bowen in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, respectively, accused the defendant, 940 Ocean Drive LLC, of carrying out this ruse to terminate the lease of one of its tenants, plaintiff Sobe USA LLC, to bring in a new tenant on more financially favorable terms for the landlord.

Steven M. Ebner, partner with Shutts & Bowen. (Courtesy photo) Steven M. Ebner, a partner with Shutts & Bowen. (Courtesy photo)