A California resident's reported love for exercise helped dash his chance of escaping a nearly $2.2 million judgment against him, plaintiffs lawyer Michael Pike said.

The result was a landmark ruling against Florida's strong constitutional protections that protect homesteads against forced sale and typically make it difficult to foreclose liens on these properties.

Retired dentist Michael Motamed faced the multimillion-dollar judgment after a personal injury suit by Regina Marie Ramos, who claimed she was walking in a California suburb when Motamed hit her with his car, requiring her to have seven surgeries.