Salazar Law Wins $3.5 Million Summary Judgment and Preliminary Injunction Against Elite Catch Group

July 6, 2023 Posted in Firm News

Salazar Law is pleased to announce that the firm has secured a $3.5 million judgment and preliminary injunction on behalf of its client, Valia Trading Corp., a global seafood distributor, against Miami-based seafood importers, Elite Catch Seafood, LLC, Harvest Supply Corp., and Seafoodelite Corp., together known as the Elite Catch Group.   

Salazar Law brought suit on behalf of Valia Trading Corp. against the Elite Catch Group for failure to comply with the parties’ Exclusive Distribution Agreement (EDA), including failing to pay Valia the outstanding shared profits for seafood products sold by the Elite Catch Group within Valia’s exclusive sales territories of the United States, Russia, China and Mexico. The Circuit Court of The Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida, issued a preliminary injunction barring the Elite Catch Group from selling any seafood products in those territories. The injunction also bars the Elite Catch Group’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys and on those persons in active concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of the injunction from selling any seafood products in those territories, including Fernando Palau, Gabriella Palau, and Maria Fernanda Palau.

“Valia had repeatedly and in good faith attempted to resolve this dispute but could not reach a satisfactory conclusion,” Luis Salazar said. “The Court is now requiring the Elite Catch Entities to provide accounting of its sales of seafood products since July 2021, has restrained and enjoined them from sales in Valia’s territory, and ordered their full compliance with the EDA terms. Our firm is proud to have been able to bring this matter to a rapid and conclusive end.”

The success of the summary judgment win was led by partner Luis Salazar with assistance from partner Jose Ceide and associate Sandra Mejia.