A nine-day trial in Nantucket Superior Court concluded May 13 when a jury found Procaccianti Companies, the Rhode Island-based owner of the Veranda House hotel, liable for fire damage sustained by four neighboring property owners [1]. Plaintiffs Kevin Davidson, Kathy Davidson, Susan Renzulli, and Franklin Harris brought claims sounding in negligence, nuisance, and emotional distress, alleging that a fire originating from smoking on hotel property spread to their residences [1]. The case proceeded to verdict without reported dispositive motion practice that eliminated claims before trial.
Plaintiff counsel Jonathan Sweet of Keches Law Group asked the jury to award between $3 million and $5 million per plaintiff, a request that would have placed the total recovery between $12 million and $20 million [1]. The jury instead returned a combined award of $3.5 million across all four plaintiffs, a figure substantially below the range sought [1]. The verdict carried no punitive component [1].
Because the award is a general verdict across multiple plaintiffs, the per-plaintiff allocation has not been reported in available sources. The $3.5 million total reflects compensatory damages only, covering property loss and emotional distress claims as submitted to the jury [1].
No defense counsel for Procaccianti Companies was identified in available sources. The company has not publicly commented on whether it intends to challenge the verdict through post-trial motions or appeal, and no judgment has yet been reported as entered on the docket [1].