The Circuit Court for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida will allow Tuto Zabala Jr.’s All Star Boxing to seek punitive damages against Golden Boy Promotions for tortious interference involving Golden Boy’s signing of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez while Canelo was still under a promotional contract with All Star Boxing.
According to court documents signed by Circuit Court Judge Abby Cynamon:
5. Plaintiff has sufficiently provided this Court with a reasonable showing by evidence in the record or has proffered such evidence to support a reasonable basis that Defendant Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. has engaged in “intentional misconduct” or “gross negligence” (as defined by Florida Statute §768.72) such that a reasonable basis exists as to the recovery of punitive damages against Defendant Golden Boy Promotions, Inc.
6. The evidence presented to the Court as to the tortious interference with contractual relationship is sufficient to provide a reasonable basis to conclude that Defendant Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. had actual knowledge of the wrongfulness of its conduct and the high probability that injury or damage to Plaintiff would result and, despite that knowledge, intentionally pursued that course of conduct, resulting in injury or damage.
7. Namely, Defendant Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. possessed knowledge of the Exclusive Promotional Agreement, and the relationship that existed, between Plaintiff and Defendant Saul Alvarez, interfered with that contract and relationship by signing Defendant Alvarez to a promotional agreement, knowing that such interference would result in injury or damage to Plaintiff. Despite such knowledge, Defendant Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. intentionally pursued its efforts in signing Defendant Alvarez to a contract, which resulted in Plaintiff suffering injury or damage.
8. In addition, the Court was presented with a proffer of evidence pertaining to other lawsuits involving Defendant Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. for the purpose of establishing that Defendant Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. has engaged in a pattern or course of conduct of interfering with contractual rights of other professional boxers or promoters sufficient to provide a reasonable basis to conclude that Defendant Golden Boy Promotions, Inc. was aware of the nature and consequences of its actions in this case and, nevertheless, proceeded with its actions in this case.
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami-Dade County, Florida, on 09/25/13.