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The Florida Third District Court of Appeal has again upheld the US$131 million judgment against businessman Steve Ferguson, concluding a 19-year legal battle that accused him of orchestrating a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme tied to the construction of the Piarco International Airport.

In a ruling on November 5, Third District Court of Appeal judges Thomas Logue, Monica Gordo and Fleur Lobree affirmed a Miami-Dade County jury’s finding that Ferguson committed civil fraud, conspired to commit fraud, and violated Florida’s Civil Remedies for Criminal Practices Act and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. The ruling rejected Ferguson’s arguments that the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago had not proven a “domestic injury,” a key requirement under federal RICO law.

“We deny appellant’s motion for rehearing, rehearing en banc, and certification…