A Miami-Dade jury has sided with the estate of Timothy Johnson Jr. in its lawsuit alleging an aircraft engine manufacturer's negligence caused the South Florida pilot's death.

On March 13, the jury found Alabama-based Continental Motors Inc. was 100% responsible for the December 2012 plane crash at North Palm Beach County Airport that claimed Johnson's life. The verdict form shows it awarded $2.35 million to Johnson's estate and $2.65 million to his surviving wife, Carly, for a total of $5 million in damages.

Podhurst Orseck attorneys Ricardo Martinez-Cid and Lea Bucciero represented Johnson's family in its suit against Continental in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. Johnson and his father, both registered pilots, traveled to the airport to pick up a Cessna 421 twin-engine plane following an annual inspection of the airplane. Martinez-Cid said Johnson's troubles began shortly after takeoff.