Troutman Pepper Locke Helps Notch Verdict for Piedmont Park Conservancy in High-Profile Contract Dispute

ATLANTA – Troutman Pepper Locke secured a defense verdict after an eight-day jury trial in a contract construction dispute in the Superior Court of Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia. The case, Be Our Guest Invs. v. Piedmont Park Conservancy, Inc., concluded on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, with a finding from the jury that the plaintiff, Be Our Guest, breached the lease agreement, resulting in an award of both compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees to the Piedmont Park Conservancy, a nonprofit organization in Atlanta that manages the largest public park in the city, Piedmont Park.

Although the jury found both parties breached the lease agreement in some respect, Be Our Guest had asked the jury to award it over $6 million in damages, including a claim for future lost profits. Instead, following post-trial briefing, on March 5, 2025, the court entered the final judgment, finding that “PPC is entitled to recover $1,514,370.34” from the plaintiff, Be Our Guest, and entered an award of nominal damages to the plaintiff in the amount of $171,107.

“The unanimous jury verdict provides relief to the Piedmont Park Conservancy from a lengthy and costly legal battle with a former tenant. We are extremely pleased with the outcome and the jury’s finding,” said Jason McLarry, Troutman Pepper Locke partner who led the defense.

McLarry and partner Brett Mason served as trial counsel, with key trial support from associates Frederick King, Alex Martinez, Nicole Laudick, and Rachel Hendrix.

Troutman Pepper Locke’s Construction Practice Group is comprised of more than 50 attorneys solely focused on the construction industry, and counsels clients on some of the largest, most sophisticated construction projects in the world. It is among the leading firms in total number of complex disputes tried and won in federal and state courts nationwide and arbitration forums domestic and international. Projects have included airport terminals, complex high rises, commercial office buildings, warehouse spaces, universities, medical buildings, stadiums, wind and solar energy-related projects, and high-dollar international projects.

Troutman Pepper Locke

Troutman Pepper Locke helps clients solve complex legal challenges and achieve their business goals in an ever-changing global economy. With more than 1,600 attorneys in 30+ offices, the firm serves clients in all major industry sectors, with particular depth in energy, financial services, health care and life sciences, insurance and reinsurance, private equity, and real estate. Learn more at troutman.com.