SIXTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL STATE OF FLORIDA _____________________________
Case No. 6D2025-0451 Lower Tribunal No. 2022-CA-001383 _____________________________
BRAYAN A. SAGASTUME MIRLALDA, CONCRETE HOLDINGS & SERVICES, LLC, a/k/a and/or d/b/a C & C CONCRETE PUMPING, C&C CONCRETE PUMPING OF ORLANDO, INC., a/k/a and/or d/b/a C&C CONCRETE PUMPING OF ORLANDO, C & C SERVICES ORLANDO, LLC, a/k/a and/or d/b/a C&C CONCRETE PUMPING OF ORLANDO, C&C CONCRETE PUMPING OF TAMPA, LLC, C & C SERVICES GROUP, LLC, and JOSE CANCIO,
Appellants
v.
STAFFORD A. MITCHELL, JR.,
Appellee. _____________________________
Appeal pursuant to Fla. R. App. P. 9.130 from the Circuit Court for Orange County. Brian S. Sandor, Judge.
February 27, 2026
NARDELLA, J.
When a defendant’s negligent actions are so outrageous in character and so
extreme in degree that an average member of the community would exclaim,
“Outrageous!,” then the law may move beyond merely compensating the plaintiff to
penalizing the defendant in the form of punitive damages. The trial court found this
is such a case. It is not. Background
After moving from New York to Miami, Brayan Sagastume Mirlalda
(“Sagastume”) went to work for Concrete Holdings & Services, LLC (“C&C”) as a
mechanic. A year later, he was transferred to one of C&C’s subsidiaries, C&C
Concrete Pumping of Tampa, LLC (“C&C Tampa”), to operate a concrete pump
trailer.
In this position, he traveled to Orlando on December 30, 2020, to work on the
I-4 Ultimate construction project. After completing his work that day, Sagastume
began to drive through the construction area completely unaware that the pipe
attached to the back of his trailer had come unsecured and was sticking out to the
side. That pipe struck another worker, Stafford A. Mitchell, Jr. (“Mitchell”), from
behind and hit two parked vehicles.
An injured Mitchell later sued Sagastume, C&C, and C&C Tampa
(collectively, “Defendants”) for various forms of negligence, including claims of
negligent hiring, retention, and supervision against C&C and C&C Tampa
(collectively, “C&C Contractors”). Eventually, Mitchell sought more than
compensation for his injuries and moved for leave to assert claims for punitive
damages against Defendants. As for Sagastume, Mitchell argued that he was grossly
negligent because, in addition to negligently operating his vehicle on the day of the
accident, he: 1) had a history of driver’s license suspensions; 2) was driving on an
expired license when the accident occurred; and 3) had a similar accident two days
2 earlier, on December 28, 2020. As for C&C Contractors, Mitchell argued that they
were directly and vicariously liable for punitive damages. He argued that they were
directly liable because their managing agents, Jose Cancio 1 and Mario Penzo 2: 1)
consented or ratified the decision to hire Sagastume, despite his driving record; 2)
retained Sagastume despite the December 28th accident; and 3) rehired Sagastume
following the December 30th accident. Mitchell also argued that C&C Contractors
were vicariously liable based on Sagastume’s gross negligence and their negligent
hiring, retention, and supervision of Sagastume. Defendants opposed the motion,
arguing that the evidence on which Mitchell relied could not support a claim for
punitive damages. 3
1 Mr. Cancio owns C&C Contractors. 2 Mr. Penzo is the chief financial officer for C&C Contractors. 3 Defendants also challenged the veracity of the evidence Mitchell presented in support of his claim that Sagastume caused a similar accident on December 28th. In doing so, they presented compelling evidence that the accident report relied upon by Mitchell’s counsel was unreliable. While this raises an interesting issue about the trial court’s consideration of the evidence at this stage of the proceeding, it is one we need not and do not answer today because, as discussed below, even if Sagastume was involved in a similar accident on December 28th, we still find Mitchell has not shown that he has a right to proceed with a claim for punitive damages. Nevertheless, we find it necessary to offer this reminder coupled with this caution: while an attorney’s role as a zealous advocate is robust, it must remain subordinate to their duty as an officer of the court. When a lawyer submits evidence that they know is false, they cease to be an advocate and become an active participant in fraud upon the court.
3 After a hearing, the trial court granted Mitchell’s motion. As for Sagastume,
the trial court found that his “decision to continue driving with an invalid and/or
expired driver’s license, knowing that he had a prior substantially similar accident
just two days prior to this accident[,] and his history of license suspensions was the
willful and wanton conduct that subjects his conduct to punitive damages.” As for
Mitchell’s claim for direct liability against C&C Contractors, the trial court found:
Here, the policy makers within the corporation[,] such as the CFO, Mario Penzo, and owner, Jose Cancio, engaged in such tortious, flagrant, and grossly negligent conduct, by consenting to and/or ratifying the decision to hire, retain, and allow Sagastume to continue to drive its commercial vehicle, including rehiring him after this accident even though his driver’s license was still invalid. As such, the Plaintiff has established a reasonable basis for recovery of punitive damages based on direct liability.
Finally, with respect to Mitchell’s claim for vicarious liability against C&C
Contractors, the trial court found:
Here, Sagastume’s decision to continue driving with an invalid and/or expired driver’s license, knowing that he had a prior substantially similar accident just two days prior to this accident[,] and his history of license suspensions was the willful and wanton conduct that subjects his conduct to punitive damages. This Court has already found as a matter of law that the [C&C Contractors] have at least some fault that rises to ordinary negligence. As such, the Plaintiff has established a reasonable basis for recovery of punitive damages based on vicarious liability.
Our review of an order granting a motion for leave to assert a claim for
punitive damages is subject to de novo review. Mercer v. Saddle Creek Transp.,
4 Inc., 389 So. 3d 774, 776 (Fla. 6th DCA 2024) (citing Est. of Despain v. Avante Grp.,
Inc., 900 So. 2d 637, 644 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005)).
The Law
Defendants contend that Mitchell failed to present a reasonable basis to
recover punitive damages against Sagastume and that no view of the evidence
supports the conclusion that Sagastume’s conduct constituted gross negligence
warranting exposure to a claim for punitive damages. We agree.
A plaintiff’s ability to assert a claim for punitive damages is governed by
section 768.72, Florida Statutes, which provides that “no claim for punitive damages
shall be permitted unless there is a reasonable showing by evidence in the record or
proffered by the claimant which would provide a reasonable basis for recovery of
such damages.” § 768.72(1), Fla. Stat. (2020); see Globe Newspaper Co. v. King,
658 So. 2d 518, 519 (Fla. 1995) (explaining that section 768.72 creates “a
substantive legal right not to be subject to a punitive damages claim . . . until the trial
court makes a determination that there is a reasonable evidentiary basis for recovery
of punitive damages”).
Evidence presented in support of a claim for punitive damages must
reasonably demonstrate that the defendant was “guilty of intentional misconduct or
gross negligence.” § 768.72(2), Fla. Stat. Here, Mitchell claims Defendants were
grossly negligent. Gross negligence is defined as “conduct [that] was so reckless or
5 wanting in care that it constituted a conscious disregard or indifference to the life,
safety, or rights of persons exposed to such conduct.” § 768.72(2)(b), Fla. Stat.
In deciding whether to permit a claim for punitive damages, the trial court acts
as “a ‘gatekeeper’ to assess whether the claimant has shown a reasonable evidentiary
basis for the recovery of punitive damages.” Hosp. Specialists, P.A. v. Deen, 373
So. 3d 1283, 1287 (Fla. 5th DCA 2023) (citing Varnedore v. Copeland, 210 So. 3d
741, 745 (Fla. 5th DCA 2017)). 4 In performing this function, the trial court must
first ensure that each piece of evidence presented in support of a claim for punitive
damages is relevant to the underlying claim of negligence and resulting injury. See
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Campbell, 538 U.S. 408, 422–23 (2003) (“A
defendant’s dissimilar acts, independent from the acts upon which liability was
premised, may not serve as the basis for punitive damages. A defendant should be
punished for the conduct that harmed the plaintiff, not for being an unsavory
4 The Fourth District has taken a broader view of the trial court’s gatekeeping function, concluding that the trial court must “make a preliminary determination of whether a reasonable jury, viewing the totality of proffered evidence in the light most favorable to the movant, could find by clear and convincing evidence that punitive damages are warranted.” Fed. Ins. Co. v. Perlmutter, 376 So. 3d 24, 34 (Fla. 4th DCA 2023) (emphasis removed). In reaching this conclusion, the Fourth District certified conflict with decisions from the Second and Fifth Districts and the matter is under review with the Florida Supreme Court. Id. at 38, review granted, No. SC2024-0058, 2024 WL 4948685 (Fla. Dec. 3, 2024). We, though, need not weigh in on this issue because, as Defendants argue, “the record and proffered evidence do not establish a reasonable showing that Mitchell could recover punitive damages under either quantum of proof.” We, therefore, will not apply the broader standard articulated in Perlmutter. 6 individual or business. Due process does not permit courts, in the calculation of
punitive damages, to adjudicate the merits of other parties’ hypothetical claims
against a defendant under the guise of the reprehensibility analysis[.]”); Ebsary
Found. Co. v. Servinsky, 378 So. 3d 625, 626–27 (Fla. 4th DCA 2023) (reversing
order granting motion for leave to assert claim for punitive damages against
employer, in part, because some evidence plaintiff proffered, namely the employee’s
actions after being hired, were “not directly related to the allegation that [the
employer] was grossly negligent in hiring [the employee]”); HRB Tax Grp., Inc. v.
Fla. Investigation Bureau, Inc., 360 So. 3d 1159, 1162 (Fla. 4th DCA 2023) (“[T]he
trial court improperly considered allegations and evidence not relevant to the claim
for which punitive damages were sought.”); see also Hardin v. R.J. Reynolds
Tobacco Co., 314 So. 3d 584, 589 (Fla. 3d DCA 2020) (affirming trial court’s entry
of directed verdict in defendant’s favor on claim for punitive damages because
plaintiff failed to present sufficient evidence establishing a “link” between
defendant’s misconduct and the product liability claim and decedent’s injuries);
Fla. Std. Jury Instr. (Civ.) 503.1 (instructing that punitive damages are warranted
against defendant if the jury finds by clear and convincing evidence that defendant
was guilty of intentional misconduct or gross negligence, which was a substantial
cause of loss or injury to the plaintiff). If it is not relevant, it should not be
considered. Only after evidence is determined to be relevant should it be viewed in
a light most favorable to the plaintiff, without weighing it or evaluating witness
7 credibility. Mercer, 389 So. 3d at 777 (explaining courts view evidence in light most
favorable to party moving for punitive damages without weighing it or evaluating
witness credibility) (citing Perlmutter, 376 So. 3d at 34; 701 Palafox, LLC v. Scuba
Shack, Inc., 367 So. 3d 624, 627 (Fla. 1st DCA 2023); Est. of Despain, 900 So. 2d
at 644).
Ultimately, “punitive damages are reserved for truly culpable behavior and
are intended to express society’s collective outrage.” Grove Isle Ass’n v. Lindzon,
350 So. 3d 826, 830 (Fla. 3d DCA 2022) (quoting KIS Grp., LLC v. Moquin, 263
So. 3d 63, 65–66 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019)). Therefore, the relevant conduct at issue
must be “so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree . . . [that] the facts [of
the case] to an average member of the community would arouse his resentment
against the actor, and lead him to exclaim, ‘Outrageous!’” River Front Master Ass’n
v. N. Inv. Grp., LLC, 399 So. 3d 1106, 1108 (Fla. 3d DCA 2024) (quoting Cleveland
Clinic Fla. Health Sys. Nonprofit Corp. v. Oriolo, 357 So. 3d 703, 706 (Fla. 4th DCA
2023)). The relevant conduct here does not meet this stringent standard.
Sagastume’s Liability
Mitchell alleges that Sagastume failed to secure a pipe before driving through
a construction site and that his failure is so outrageous that he deserves punishment.
According to Mitchell, Sagastume should be punished because of his past driving
record, his decision to drive on an expired license, and the possibility that he was in
an accident two days earlier. But these points and the evidence underpinning them
8 do not provide a reasonable basis for Mitchell to recover punitive damages against
Sagastume.
As explained above, before we consider the evidence in the light most
favorable to Mitchell, we must first determine whether it is relevant. And
Sagastume’s past driving record is not. While Mitchell submitted evidence showing
New York suspended Sagastume’s driver’s license several times, nothing in his
record shows that the suspensions were issued for moving violations or reckless
driving. Rather, the records reveal New York suspended Sagastume’s license for
administrative issues, such as lapsed insurance, failure to pay fines, 5 and failure to
answer a summons. Even more removed, the issues leading to the suspensions were
resolved and Sagastume’s New York driver’s license was reinstated months before
the accident. None of this evidence has anything to do with Sagastume’s actions
being grossly negligent on December 30th.
Likewise, Sagastume’s decision to drive days after his New York driver’s
license expired is irrelevant. While Sagastume’s operation of a vehicle with an
expired license was unlawful, see § 322.065, Fla. Stat. (person who operates vehicle
on the roadways with license that has been expired for six months or less commits a
noncriminal traffic infraction), the expiration of his license alone is not evidence of
his inability to operate a concrete pump trailer. That malfeasance alone, which is
5 According to Sagastume, the fines stemmed from parking issues. 9 unrelated to Sagastume’s failure to properly secure a pipe on the concrete pump
trailer, does not support a finding of gross negligence. 6 See Mercer, 389 So. 3d at
778 (concluding that while federal regulations forbid commercial truck drivers from
using hand-held cell phones “the mere use of a cell phone while driving a truck [does
not] automatically provide[ ] a reasonable basis for a plaintiff to seek punitive
damages”); Cleveland Clinic, 357 So. 3d at 706 (“Allegations of misfeasance
or malfeasance, or breaches of a professional standard of care, cannot without more
be converted into a claim for punitive damages simply by labelling them as ‘grossly’
negligent.” (citing Weller v. Reitz, 419 So. 2d 739, 741 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982))).
Finally, none of the evidence implying Sagastume may have been in a similar
accident two days prior supports a finding of gross negligence. While having similar
accidents just two days apart may be concerning, that fact, without more, does not
support a finding that the driver involved in both accidents was grossly negligent.
Here, there is no evidence detailing what caused the pipe to come unsecured during
the December 28th accident. It may have come loose for a reason unrelated to
Sagastume’s actions, such as the unexpected failure of a part securing the pipe to the
6 Mitchell also pointed to Sagastume’s failure to obtain a Florida driver’s license within thirty days of accepting employment in Florida. See § 322.031(1), Fla. Stat. (requiring nonresidents to obtain Florida driver’s license within 30 days of accepting employment in Florida). Again, while Sagastume did not comply with section 322.031(1), his failure to do so does not mean he was unfit to operate a vehicle or the concrete pump trailer. Thus, it likewise does not support a finding of gross negligence. 10 trailer or the pipe being jolted loose by the rough surfaces of the construction zone.
Without any evidence showing how the pipe came loose on December 28th, that
accident cannot provide a reasonable basis to conclude Sagastume’s actions on
December 30th were grossly negligent. Indeed, under the facts here, the mere
occurrence—or alleged occurrence—of a prior accident is not sufficient, without
more, to demonstrate Sagastume acted in a grossly negligent way. See Long v.
Kropke, 370 So. 3d 319, 322 (Fla. 4th DCA 2023) (finding plaintiff’s failure to
present specific evidence regarding prior incidents of speeding undermined claim to
assert punitive damages against defendant); Gulf Power Co. v. Kay, 493 So. 2d 1067,
1075 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986) (“Gulf Power’s knowledge of the two accidents at the
pole in this case, in view of the lack of similarity of circumstances shown by the
record before us, is not legally sufficient to support a finding of the gross and flagrant
negligence required to support the award of punitive damages.”).
None of the points, individually or collectively, on which the trial court relied
to grant Mitchell’s motion provides a reasonable basis to support a finding that
Sagastume’s conduct on December 30th was so reckless or wanting in care that it
constituted a conscious disregard or indifference to the life or safety of the people
exposed to such conduct. Put another way, there is nothing about the evidence on
which Mitchell and the trial court relied that would cause an average member of the
11 community to reasonably exclaim, “Outrageous!” 7 Therefore, the trial court erred
by granting Mitchell leave to assert a claim for punitive damages against Sagastume.
C&C Contractors’ Vicarious Liability
Since the trial court erred by granting Mitchell leave to assert a claim for
punitive damages against Sagastume, it also erred by granting him leave to assert a
claim for punitive damages against C&C Contractors based on a theory of vicarious
liability. See § 768.72(3), Fla. Stat. (requiring employee to have engaged in
intentional misconduct or gross negligence before their employer can be subject to
a claim for punitive damages under a theory of vicarious liability).
C&C Contractors’ Direct Liability
The last issue is whether the trial court erred by granting Mitchell leave to
assert a claim for punitive damages against C&C Contractors based on a theory of
direct liability. Defendants contend Mitchell failed to present evidence that C&C
Contractors were grossly negligent in hiring, retaining, and allowing Sagastume to
operate a company vehicle. We agree.
A company can be held directly liable for punitive damages.
Under the direct theory, liability for gross negligence is established if the corporation itself engaged in conduct that was “so reckless or wanting in care that it constituted a conscious disregard or indifference
7 On appeal, Mitchell points to other evidence in support of his claim for punitive damages against Sagastume. The trial court, though, did not rely on this evidence when it granted Mitchell’s motion. As the trial court’s ruling implies, none of the other evidence Mitchell presented reasonably supports a finding that Sagastume was grossly negligent. 12 to the life, safety, or rights of persons exposed to such conduct,” and that conduct contributed to the loss of the injured party. Moreover, because a corporation cannot act on its own, “there must be a showing of willful and malicious action on the part of a managing agent of the corporation” to establish direct punitive liability.
Five Fran, LLC v. Davis, 404 So. 3d 581, 584 (Fla. 3d DCA 2025) (quoting Fla.
Power & Light Co. v. Dominguez, 295 So. 3d 1202, 1205 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019)).
Mitchell’s claim that C&C Contractors were grossly negligent because they
failed to use appropriate practices when hiring Sagastume fails for a simple reason—
Sagastume was not originally hired to operate C&C Contractors’ vehicles. He was,
instead, hired to work as a mechanic—a position he held for a year before being
transferred to a driver position. There was, consequently, no need for C&C
Contractors to scrutinize Sagastume’s license or driving history before hiring him.
As a result, Mitchell has not shown that C&C Contractors could be found grossly
negligent for failing to scrutinize Sagastume’s license or driving history when he
was hired. See Tallahassee Furniture Co. v. Harrison, 583 So. 2d 744, 750 (Fla. 1st
DCA 1991) (“[C]entral to the task of judging the employer’s responsibility to
investigate an employee’s background is consideration of ‘the type of work to be
done by the employee.’” (quoting Williams v. Feather Sound, Inc., 386 So. 2d 1238,
1240 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980))).
Mitchell’s claim that C&C Contractors were grossly negligent because they
failed to ensure Sagastume was properly trained and qualified to safely drive a
vehicle and operate the concrete pump trailer fails because the evidence that Mitchell
13 relies on does not reasonably demonstrate that C&C Contractors were grossly
negligent. First, the evidence shows that Sagastume was made a driver after the
suspension of his New York driver’s license was lifted. And, while Sagastume’s
New York driver’s license expired days before the accident, a fact that, again, is
irrelevant to what caused the accident, there is no evidence that the managing agents,
Messrs. Cancio or Penzo, were aware of this fact or instituted a policy encouraging
employees to continue driving despite such circumstances. Second, the evidence
shows that Sagastume underwent training through the American Concrete Pumping
Association. Third and finally, Mitchell presented no evidence that anyone at C&C
Contractors, other than Sagastume, was aware of the December 28th accident—
assuming it even occurred—and so there was no reason for the managing agents to
take any corrective action. 8
Based on this record, Mitchell has not shown that C&C Contractors could be
found grossly negligent for allowing Sagastume to operate a company vehicle and
concrete pump trailer. Certainly, Mitchell has not identified any “willful and
8 The trial court also relied on evidence that another C&C entity hired Sagastume after the December 30th accident to support its finding of direct liability. Such post-accident evidence is irrelevant in establishing liability for punitive damages. See Cleveland Clinic, 357 So. 3d at 707 (“In finding sufficient evidence of ratification, the trial court relied exclusively on conduct that post-dated the health care providers’ actions and the decedent’s treatment and death. However, actions taken after the happening of a tortious act are not admissible on the issue of punitive damages, nor can those subsequent actions form the basis for bringing such a damage claim.” (citing Jones v. Alayon, 162 So. 3d 360, 365–66 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015))). 14 malicious action on the part of a managing agent” of C&C Contractors. We,
therefore, find the trial court erred in granting Mitchell leave to assert a claim for
punitive damages against C&C Contractors based on a theory of direct liability.
For all the reasons discussed above, the trial court’s order granting Mitchell’s
motion for leave to assert claims for punitive damages against Defendants is reversed
in its entirety.
REVERSED.
WOZNIAK and BROWNLEE, JJ., concur.
Mihaela Cabulea, Joshua Golembe, and Alexis Nicole Clemente, of Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP, Tampa, and Jeffrey R. Geldens, of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, Coral Gables, for Appellants.
Jeremy K. Markman and Seth L. Smith, of King & Markman, P.A., Orlando, for Appellee.
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND DISPOSITION THEREOF IF TIMELY FILED