Case: John H Kunkel, III et al vs Aero Fuels Miami, LLC et al
John Kunkel, Natalia Izquierdo and Global First Response LLC (GFR) have won a $60 million dollar jury verdict in their case against Glen Howard Adkins and Christopher Richards of Aero Fuels LLC.
In a case of a business relationship that turned sour, Adkins, a friend of Kunkel, went behind Kunkel’s back, secured funding from Richards, stole Kunkel’s business ideas and business connections, and started a competitive business with Richards that excluded Kunkel and Izquierdo.
“This was a case about broken promises and trust,” says Patrick Montoya, counsel for the plaintiffs. “John and Natalia’s business was stolen from them. While the challenges can seem insurmountable for small business owners, John and Natalie fought through it. The verdict is representative of their pursuit of what was right and fair. I am proud to have been their counsel on this matter.”
Kunkel, Izquierdo and GFR alleged counts of breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference with a business relationship, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraud, conversion, and breach of contract. The decision was delivered by a jury in the 11th Judicial Circuit for Miami-Dade County and awarded Kunkel $27,004,000, Izquierdo $6,000,000 and Global First Response (GFR) $27,000,000.
Case Background
Kunkel and Adkins were friends and associates who had worked together on several aviation projects. Kunkel founded Global First Response (GFR) in 2020, and in 2023 the two friends decided to go into business together as a fueling and ground service company. Natalie Izquierdo was hired as the chief financial officer and was given a percentage of the company.
Part of the process included securing a license through the Miami Dade Aviation Department (MDAD); an action that Adkins said he had a special relationship with the parties that would assist in expediting the license. However, it was Kunkel who completed the details to obtain the license.
Adkins signed the licensing paperwork but listed Shauuna Adkins as the company secretary. Adkins had no approval to sign the paperwork or to designate the secretary position. While Kunkel had sent Adkins the $4,000 for the licensing fee, he later found it out it had never been paid. Adkins also submitted paperwork to MDAD which falsely conveyed the number of employees at GFR.
While this was going on, Kunkel continued to meet with potential investors and sign funding agreements. One such investor, forwarded by Adkins, was defendant Christopher Richards. Richards did not want Kunkel to be involved in the business, and discussion ensued.
Adkins and Richards made Kunkel offers to sell his share but then found out Adkins had attempted to dissolve GFR through Florida’s Division of Corporations without the knowledge of the Kunkel or Izquierdo. Adkins started a new company with Richards – Aero Fuels – and supplied GFR’s confidential company information to it, while continuing to impede and disrupt the operations of GFR. Kunkel and Izquierdo continued to try and keep GFR moving forward.
As set out in GFR’s operating agreement, Adkins owed duties of disclosure, good faith, and fair dealing to GFR’s members, including Kunkel. He also breached his fiduciary duty to Kunkel in several ways through his competitive relationships, misappropriation of funds and misrepresentation of GFR interests.
The jury returned compensatory damages for Kunkel, Izquierdo and GFR in the amount of $60,004,000.
Bryson Attorneys: Patrick Montoya and Markus Kamberger