A Florida jury returned a multimillion-dollar punitive damages award in favor of a Bilzin Sumberg partner in a counter-defamation action filed in response to a lawsuit in which the plaintiff alleged the partner had schemed to keep the proceeds of a $2 million life insurance policy from the plaintiff after her husband committed suicide.

“Attorneys have the same right as others to protect the sanctity of their reputations,” said Dennis Richard, a Richard and Richard partner in Miami.