Nearly two years after chef Brian Roland’s lawsuit was settled, the business where he fell continues its own suit against another company.
Ferrari of Naples, which Roland named as a defendant with others, sued co-defendant Envirostruct in Collier County Circuit Court, records show.
Roland and his wife, Nicole, settled in late 2024 after suing Ferrari of Naples, Envirostruct and Interluxe Group Inc.; Elite Consulting of SWFL, doing business as Elite Permits of Naples; the Collier County Board of Commissioners; Miner Enterprises, doing business as Autoquip Corp.; and Snap-On Inc.
No financial amount was disclosed, which is standard in settlement agreements. The Rolands’ son, Remington, also received an undisclosed settlement in early 2025.
Here’s the latest in the litigation.
Why is Ferrari suing Envirostruct
Ferrari claims in its suit that Envirostruct “was negligent in its duties as general contractor when constructing the Ferrari of Naples dealership, including the car lift.” Envirostruct denies the allegations, court records said.
Envirostruct in January 2026 sought a trial as it rejected arbitration as the defendant in the suit against plaintiff Ferrari of Naples.
A trial date range has been set for Oct. 13 and Nov. 6, 2026.
And in the latest filing in the suit dated June 30, 2026, it’s been reassigned to Judge Christopher Brown.
Roland case legal proceedings background
Roland and fellow employees of his company, Crave Culinaire, were catering a grand opening event at Ferrari of Naples, 112921 Tamiami Trail N., the night of Dec. 4, 2021, when he fell from a second floor and became pinned under a car lift, police reports said.
Roland and his wife, Nicole, in February 2023 sued the North Naples dealership and others in Collier County Circuit Court, seeking more than $100,000 in damages.
While on the lift, Brian Roland fell through a 22-inch gap that existed between the end of the car lift platform and the wall, “where he landed on the ground floor of the car lift shaft,” the original lawsuit said.
“As Brian Roland laid unconscious on the ground floor the car lift descended and crushed him, pinning him between the car lift and the ground.”
Witness testimony in depositions described how Roland was screaming in agony as he was trapped beneath the lift. And in Roland’s own deposition, he described how he had lost confidence as a cook, the physical pain he felt and his loss of taste, which is essential for chefs.
” … prior to the fall my palate and my sense of smell drove my success,” he said in the October 2023 deposition. “So when everything became bland, I was kind of useless. I didn’t feel like I had that ability anymore.”
Brian Roland more recently has appeared throughout Southwest Florida at various food events as part of his catering business, Crave Culinaire.
Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Contact him at dosborn@usatodayco.com and follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Exclusive: Ferrari of Naples suit vs. contractor ongoing after Roland
Reporting by Dave Osborn, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dave Osborn, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
