Pay Up Jr v. Rechnitz CA2/8

INTRODUCTION

Defendants Jona Rechnitz and Jadelle Jewelry & Diamonds, LLC (Jadelle Jewelry) appeal from the trial court’s judgment entered in favor of plaintiff Victor Franco Noval1 after a bench trial. Defendants contend insufficient evidence supports several of the court’s findings, and that the court abused its discretion in admitting certain pieces of evidence. Due to serious defects in their appellate briefs, defendants have forfeited all the claims of error that they raise on appeal. Accordingly, we affirm.

BACKGROUND

1. The loans In 2019, Noval loaned about $6 million, through a series of installments, to Jadelle Jewelry. Before Noval advanced each installment of the loan to Jadelle Jewelry, Rechnitz pledged some jewelry as collateral for the loan. Rechnitz assured Noval that the total value of the jewelry was higher than the total value of the loan. In March 2019, Noval and Jadelle Jewelry executed a document entitled, “DEBT ACKNOWLEDGMENT,

PROMISSORY NOTE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT”

(Promissory Note). The Promissory Note memorializes a portion of the loan, specifically four installments totaling $2.85 million that Noval advanced to Jadelle Jewelry between January and…