A senior technology executive has been awarded a substantial damages claim of $2.75 million following the breach of a confidential settlement agreement by a woman who made public allegations of assault. The case, Michael Fitzgerald et al v. Ronda McNae, was decided by the US Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on November 10, 2026. The ruling serves as a warning against breaching confidentiality agreements, particularly when it results in harm to another person's career and reputation.
The dispute started with a private settlement agreement in which Michael Fitzgerald, a technology executive, paid Ronda McNae $97,000 to resolve earlier disputes. Both parties agreed to maintain the confidentiality of the agreement's details. However, McNae later violated this agreement by sharing information that led to damaging allegations against Fitzgerald, including rape and sexual assault claims. These accusations were made public on social media and other websites.
Fitzgerald and co-plaintiff Yelany de Varona argued that McNae's actions aimed to harm his career, reputation, and ability to earn a living. The lower court initially ruled in Fitzgerald's favor, finding that McNae had breached the clear and legally binding terms of the confidential settlement agreement. As a result, he was entitled to damages. The court awarded Fitzgerald a total of $2,746,703.27 in economic and non-economic damages, primarily due to the damage to his professional reputation and estimated losses during the time it would take him to rebuild his career.
In her appeal, McNae argued that the award was excessive and that errors were made by the lower court. However, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's decision, finding no clear error in the damages calculation and concluding that the evidence supported the amount awarded to Fitzgerald. The panel noted that the lower court had carefully considered the financial and professional harm caused by McNae's actions. The decision leaves the full damages award intact.