Glaser Weil’s Early Work Helps Secure $845 Million Verdict in Baha Mar Resort Fraud Case

Glaser Weil proudly represented the former owner of the Baha Mar Resort, BML Properties Ltd., in a significant fraud and breach of contract case against China Construction America, Inc. (CCA) and affiliated co-defendants. Our client sought over $1 billion in damages, stemming from deceptions by CCA, the construction manager and general contractor for the $3.5 billion mega-resort project in Nassau, Bahamas featuring 2,300 rooms across three hotels (including Rosewood, Grand Hyatt and SLS), the Caribbean’s largest casino, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, and other high-end amenities. 

In December 2017, Peter Sheridan of Glaser Weil, along with co-counsel Nick Lewin of Morrison Cohen, filed a detailed complaint in New York in the case entitled BML Properties Ltd. v. China Construction America, Inc. et al.. Together, over the following nearly three years, they successfully prosecuted the case through multiple rounds of motions and appeals. In Fall 2020, Susman Godfrey LLP took over as lead counsel and ultimately successfully tried the case between August 1 and August 16, 2024.

On October 18, 2024, the New York Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Andrew Borrok, issued a 74-page Post-Trial Decision and Order in BML Properties Ltd. v. China Construction America, Inc. et al finding all defendants liable of multiple instances of fraud and breach of the parties’ investment agreement. The court awarded $845 million to BML Properties, plus prejudgment interest of 9% per year from May 1, 2014 – an award of more than $1.6 billion. Sheridan stated that “the ruling stands as a vindication of the fortitude and perseverance of Sarkis Izmirlian in prosecuting this case and revealing the true events leading up to the ouster of the developer. Moreover, the ruling is the result of the skilled and determined hard work of all the lawyers at Susman Godfrey, and our congratulations go out to them.”

Opposing counsel included Squire Patton Boggs and Debevoise & Plimpton.

About Glaser Weil – Glaser Weil is a premier law firm headquartered in Los Angeles with outstanding experience and market-leading successes in litigation, corporate, intellectual property and real estate matters. We represent both corporations and individuals in their most significant cases and most transformative deals.

About Peter Sheridan – Peter C. Sheridan leads Glaser Weil’s Construction Practice Group. He focuses his practice primarily on construction law and also handles complex real estate, land use, eminent domain and inverse condemnation cases. He represents owners, developers, architects and government entities in California, Nevada and internationally, with a particular focus on construction issues in the hospitality industry.