--- title: "Ex-Adjuster Wins Big After Firm Withholds Commissions" meta: "og:description": "Connecticut Jury rules against The Public's Adjuster LLC, awarding Castro damages for, defamation, and bad faith after a bitter professional falling-out." "og:title": "Ex-Adjuster Wins Big After Firm Withholds Commissions" description: "Connecticut Jury rules against The Public's Adjuster LLC, awarding Castro damages for, defamation, and bad faith after a bitter professional falling-out." --- February 25, 2026 # **Ex-Adjuster Wins Big After Firm Withholds Commissions** Connecticut Jury rules against The Public's Adjuster LLC, awarding Castro damages for, defamation, and bad faith after a bitter professional falling-out. [**Insurance Law**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/ex-adjuster-wins-big-after-firm-withholds-commissions/jury-verdict/category/insurance-law) [**Professional Liability **](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/ex-adjuster-wins-big-after-firm-withholds-commissions/jury-verdict/category/professional-liability-) ### **Outline** Author ![](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/profile_images/shared_image_1.webp) **Sohini Chakraborty****Sohini Chakraborty is a lawyer, with over two years of experience in legal research and analysis. She specializes in working closely with expert witnesses, offering critical support in preparing legal research and detailed case studies.** ![Article Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/THE_PUBLIC_S_ADJUSTER.webp) What started as a commission dispute between a Connecticut public adjusting firm and its former adjuster ended with a Jury delivering a sweeping verdict in that adjuster's favor in January 2026. Juliana R. Castro claimed The Public's Adjuster, LLC owed her earned commissions and then spent months trying to destroy her career after letting her go. The firm, which had its own grievances — including allegations that Castro deleted its Facebook account and poached its clients — left the Courtroom with just $10. The verdict drew a sharp line between a company's right to protect its business and the obligations it owes the people who built it. ## **Case Background** The Public's Adjuster, LLC (TPA) is a Connecticut public adjusting company owned and operated by Todd Moler. TPA specializes in analyzing and negotiating first-party property insurance claims on behalf of policyholders, using a team of licensed adjusters, estimators, and administrative staff. Juliana R. Castro is a Connecticut-licensed public adjuster who conducted business through her own entity, IPAE, LLC. TPA brought Castro on in late 2016 to market its services and handle claims on its behalf. The two sides formalized their arrangement through written agreements, and Castro worked within TPA's structure for over two years. TPA terminated Castro and IPAE in February 2019, a decision that quickly triggered litigation as both sides accused the other of wrongdoing before and after the split. ### **Cause** TPA filed suit against Castro and IPAE in April 2019, alleging that Castro used unauthorized access to TPA's Facebook account on two separate occasions after her termination — first deleting its content and then deactivating the entire account. TPA further alleged that Castro contacted its clients without permission, encouraged them to break their contracts, and diverted business to IPAE in violation of Connecticut insurance regulations and her contractual obligations. Castro and IPAE countersued, alleging TPA owed Castro over $100,000 in earned commissions it refused to pay, and that after terminating her, TPA deliberately targeted her reputation to prevent her from competing and to avoid paying what it owed. ### **Injury** TPA said the deletion of its Facebook account caused lasting harm to its online marketing reach, since its social media history feeds into algorithms that drive potential clients to the company's website. It claimed the damage was largely irreparable. On the other side, Castro said TPA's withholding of commissions left her without pay she rightfully earned. She also alleged that after her termination, TPA contacted her clients and told them it was illegal to speak with her, threatened to have her arrested over the return of equipment, and falsely told her referral sources and vendors that she had stolen information from the company all in an effort to shut her out of the industry. Castro also alleged TPA filed an FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report against her in March 2019 with malice, using law enforcement as a weapon of retaliation. ### **Damages Sought** TPA sought compensatory and punitive damages, treble damages under Connecticut's computer crime and civil theft statutes, injunctive relief, and attorney's fees under CUTPA. Castro and IPAE sought unpaid commissions exceeding $100,000, double damages and attorney's fees under the Connecticut Wage Act, punitive damages, and defamation damages stemming from TPA's alleged false statements and FBI complaint. Castro also brought a negligent infliction of emotional distress claim against TPA and separately against Todd Moler as a third-party Defendant. ## Key Arguments and Proceedings ### Legal Representation **Plaintiff:**The Public's Adjuster, LLC · **Counsel for Plaintiff:**Maria I. Garriga **Defendants/Counterclaim Plaintiffs:**Juliana R. Castro | IPAE, LLC | **Third-Party Defendant:**Todd Moler · **Counsel for Defendants:**Anthony J. Pantuso | James F. Sullivan **Experts for Parties:**[Scott Goodrich](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Scott-Goodrich/1572436)** |**[Ryan Turner](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Ryan-Turner/1572437) | [Juliana Rodrigues de Castro](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Juliana-de%20Castro/1572438) ## Key Arguments by Counsel TPA's counsel argued that Castro abused her access to company systems after her termination, deliberately deleting TPA's Facebook page and deactivating its account to harm the company's ability to attract new clients. Counsel further maintained that Castro solicited TPA's clients in violation of Connecticut insurance regulations and her contractual obligations, diverting business to herself and IPAE. Castro's counsel countered that TPA owed Castro well over $100,000 in unpaid commissions and terminated her specifically to avoid paying what it owed. Counsel argued that after the termination, TPA actively worked to destroy Castro's professional reputation by telling her clients and referral sources that she stole from the company, and by reporting her to federal law enforcement with malice. Counsel also pressed the wage violation claim, arguing TPA misclassified Castro as an independent contractor when she functioned as an employee under Connecticut's ABC test. ### Claims TPA filed seven counts against Castro and IPAE, including violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA), computer-related offenses under General Statutes Section 52-570b, tortious interference with contract, tortious interference with business expectancies, and civil theft under Section 52-564. TPA alleged Castro deliberately sabotaged its Facebook platform on two separate occasions after being terminated, causing irreparable harm to its social media presence and online marketing. Castro and IPAE filed counterclaims against TPA in four counts: breach of contract for unpaid commissions, violation of the Connecticut Wage Act, violation of CUTPA, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. They also filed third-party claims against Todd Moler personally, alleging defamation and negligent infliction of emotional distress arising from his FBI-IC3 complaint against Castro in March 2019. ### Defense Castro denied deleting TPA's Facebook data, stating she lacked sufficient knowledge regarding many of TPA's core allegations. On the commission dispute, Castro argued TPA had a clear contractual obligation to pay her earned commissions at the end of each quarter and simply refused to do so. Regarding the FBI complaint, Castro asserted that Moler acted with malice when he filed it, using law enforcement as a tool of retaliation rather than legitimate complaint. TPA and Moler denied that any post-termination communications with clients or referral sources were false or malicious. TPA maintained it had legitimate grounds to report suspected misconduct and denied interfering with Castro's business operations or reputation. ## Jury Verdict The Jury returned its verdict on January 22, 2026, and the outcome was largely in favor of Castro and IPAE on the counterclaims, while TPA's claims against the Defendants largely failed. ### TPA's Claims: Verdicts for the Defendants The Jury found in favor of Castro and IPAE on TPA's CUTPA claim (Count One), rejecting TPA's contention that the Defendants engaged in unfair trade practices. On Count Two- computer-related offenses under Section 52-570b the Jury sided with Castro, finding TPA did not prove she unlawfully accessed and deleted its Facebook data. The Jury also returned a defense verdict on Count Five- tortious interference with business expectancies and on Count Seven -civil theft under Section 52-564 again finding in Castro's favor. The sole exception was Count Four- tortious interference with contract where the Jury found in favor of TPA, awarding nominal compensatory damages of just $10 (ten dollars). This was the only verdict TPA secured among its seven claims. ### Castro and IPAE's Counterclaims — Substantial Awards On the counterclaims, the Jury returned significant awards in favor of Castro and IPAE across multiple counts. On Count One - Breach of Contract the Jury awarded compensatory damages of $43,000, along with interest at 10% per year. The Jury awarded $39,572 in interest on the compensatory damages. The Jury also found that TPA detained commissions of $15,723.55 after they were due and awarded interest on that amount at 10% per year, totaling $14,469.89. The total award on the breach of contract count was $97,641.89. On Count Two- Violation of the Connecticut Wage Act the Jury found TPA improperly withheld wages from Castro. The Jury awarded compensatory damages of $15,723.55 and doubled that amount as allowed by statute, arriving at $31,447.10. The Jury also awarded attorney's fees on this count. On Count Three- CUTPA (counterclaim) the Jury found in favor of Castro and IPAE, but set compensatory and punitive damages at zero. The verdict form reflected notations of error on the dollar amounts, and attorney's fees were not awarded on this count. On Count Four- Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing the Jury awarded Castro and IPAE $43,000 in compensatory damages but did not award punitive damages. ### Third-Party Claims Against TPA and Todd Moler — Defamation and Emotional Distress On Count Five of the counterclaims - Defamation and Defamation Per Se against TPA the Jury found that Moler acted with malice when he filed the FBI-IC3 complaint against Castro in March 2019. However, the Jury found he did not act with malice regarding the complaint filed with the Hamden Police Department. Despite the split on the malice findings, the Jury returned a verdict in favor of Castro and IPAE on defamation against TPA. The Jury awarded no special or actual damages but awarded general damages of $100,000. Punitive damages were also awarded, though the amount was to be determined separately. The total defamation award against TPA stood at $100,000. On the defamation claim against Todd Moler personally, the Jury found in Moler's favor, returning a defense verdict. On Count Six- Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress against TPA, the Jury awarded Castro $100,000 in compensatory damages and also awarded punitive damages. On the same claim against Todd Moler personally, the Jury found in Moler's favor. ### **Court Documents** [Complaint](https://civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov/DocumentInquiry/DocumentInquiry.aspx?DocumentNo=16831008) [Jury Verdict](https://civilinquiry.jud.ct.gov/DocumentInquiry/DocumentInquiry.aspx?DocumentNo=31824717) [Share with Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/ex-adjuster-wins-big-after-firm-withholds-commissions) [Share with X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/ex-adjuster-wins-big-after-firm-withholds-commissions&text=x) [Share with LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/ex-adjuster-wins-big-after-firm-withholds-commissions) [Share with Email](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/ex-adjuster-wins-big-after-firm-withholds-commissions/mailto:?body=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/ex-adjuster-wins-big-after-firm-withholds-commissions&subject=email) [Share with WhatsApp](https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/ex-adjuster-wins-big-after-firm-withholds-commissions%20whatsapp) ### **Find your next Expert Witness today** ![Sanjay Adhia](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/ex-adjuster-wins-big-after-firm-withholds-commissions/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Sanjay Adhia** Forensic Psychiastry ![George Reis](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/ex-adjuster-wins-big-after-firm-withholds-commissions/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **George Reis** Forensic Imaging ![Maria Babinetz](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/ex-adjuster-wins-big-after-firm-withholds-commissions/_ipx/q_80/user-default.svg) ###### **Maria Babinetz** Vocational Rehabilitation Find and retain experts without brokerage or upcharge. ### Looking for more? 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