A jury awarded more than $800,000 to yacht broker Scott Goldsworthy in a commission dispute involving developer Miki Naftali.
Goldsworthy sued Naftali and Italian megayacht builder Baglietto in 2019, seeking a $725,000 commission on the sale of a custom luxury yacht. A jury in Broward County awarded Goldsworthy $806,068 in damages on Friday, court records show.
A spokesperson for Naftali said in a statement that Naftali was no longer a party to the case at the time of trial, and the verdict was rendered solely against Baglietto.
Goldsworthy settled with Naftali in April, but Baglietto may seek repayment from Naftali due to an indemnification clause, according to Goldsworthy’s attorney, William Lewis of Morgan & Morgan. Attorneys for Baglietto did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Naftali, chairman and CEO of New York-based Naftali Group, had worked with Goldsworthy on the purchase and sale of other yachts prior to this purchase.
In 2016, they began working together on a custom “new build” yacht. Naftali agreed that Goldsworthy would earn a 5 percent commission on the deal, which is the industry standard, according to the complaint. Baglietto also agreed that Goldsworthy would receive a 5 percent commission, the lawsuit alleges.
Between 2016 and 2017, Goldsworthy and Naftali had “over a dozen meetings” regarding the design, quality, builder and price.
“Goldsworthy introduced, recommended and gave Nafatli pertinent information regarding the naval architect, the interior designer, and the [Baglietto, CDM and Rossinavi] shipyards that would best satisfy his desired criteria,” the lawsuit states. “Naftali used all of Goldsworthy’s recommendations throughout this process.”
In early 2018, Naftali signed a contract with Baglietto, excluding Goldsworthy as the broker, according to the complaint. Naftali told Goldsworthy he would pay him his commission directly, to which Goldsworthy objected. Months later, in March, Naftali told Goldsworthy he wouldn’t receive a commission, the lawsuit alleges. Goldsworthy sued the following year.
The 130-foot-long yacht cost about $16 million, including change orders, said Lewis, Goldworthy’s attorney. It can fit about 12 guests, plus six crew members, and includes a Jacuzzi, main salon, three guest suites and a gym, according to its website.
Lewis said his client will also be entitled to pre-judgment interest, which could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. His client will also seek reimbursement for attorneys’ fees. In total, Baglietto could be on the hook for more than $1 million.
“Our client traveled the world with Naftali. Our client also went to Baglietto without Naftali,” Lewis told TRD on Wednesday. “What’s important is my client did the work, and he wasn’t paid.”
Naftali expanded his business to South Florida in 2022 with the purchase of a condo development site at Miami Worldcenter in downtown Miami. The development firm is also building a Viceroy-branded condo tower in Fort Lauderdale.
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