Citizens loses condo court case

DAYTONA BEACH — For the second time in less than a year, a jury on Tuesday found that state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. should pay owners of a local condominium for damages sustained during Hurricane Frances in 2004.

Owners of the 18-story, 124-unit Inlet Condominium in New Smyrna Beach were awarded $3.3 million for damages from water and winds. The verdict was reached following a seven-day jury trial before Circuit Judge William Parsons.

In October, owners of the Sunglow Resort Condiminium in Daytona Beach Shores won a $950,000 verdict from Citizens for damages caused by 2004 storms.

A handful of similar lawsuits against the insurer are pending.