Press
The facts, the documents and the video, ready to use. Everything here is from the public record or from emails reproduced on this site.
The story in five sentences
- On December 2, 2024, a refrigerator bought from Costco with delivery and installation was installed in a home in St. Johns County, Florida, by an uninsured crew hired by Costco's contractor; the water hookup leaked and flooded the first floor.
- That evening Costco's chief executive wrote that Costco would "focus on getting this problem fixed if our people caused it."
- On October 28, 2026, Costco's attorney told a judge that "once the refrigerator is picked up, it's not Costco's responsibility," and described his client as "a $440 billion market cap corporation."
- To block the deposition of the vice president who handled the claim, Costco filed his affidavit, notarized by a Florida notary at its attorney's office on a certificate that says Illinois; Costco replaced it eight days later.
- On October 28, 2026, the day of the hearing, the Florida Governor's Office wrote that it had opened an investigation into the notarization.
Video
All courtroom statements with clips. Direct files:
- Kevin Jakab at 1:16: "once the refrigerator is picked up, it's not Costco's responsibility, it is the vendor's responsibility."
- Kevin Jakab at 0:51: "Evidently, they do not connect a hose. The refrigerator leaks."
- Kevin Jakab at 3:15: "if there was something that leaked or something that went wrong, we will try to work it out."
- Kevin Jakab at 4:53: "Costco's not responsible for the loss. RXO is."
- Kevin Jakab at 6:47: "a $440 billion market cap corporation, an international corporation that is 13th on the Fortune 500 list."
- Kevin Jakab at 5:53: "nobody at Costco knows. Not even their high-ranking executives, but not even their local people would know any of that."
- Kevin Jakab at 1:48: "That's the universe of discovery in a case like this."
- Kevin Jakab at 7:16: "to prevent plaintiffs from artificially creating litigation leverage"
- Kevin Jakab at 8:49: "we will focus on getting the problem fixed if our people caused it."
- Jack Webb at 15:19: "He's made that conclusion without the benefit of any discovery whatsoever"
- The full hearing, 23 minutes
Documents
- Email from Ron Vachris, December 2, 2024, as filed by Costco (DIN 74, page 38)
- Affidavit of Tony Dattilo, Exhibit C to the motion (DIN 74, pages 32 to 34)
- Notice of Filing Supplemental Affidavit, August 13, 2026 (DIN 76)
- Letter from the Office of the Governor, October 28, 2026
- Complaint to the Governor's Office Notary Section, October 21, 2026
- Order Granting Motion for Protective Order, November 2, 2026 (DIN 86)
- Order Granting Motion to Compel, September 3, 2026 (DIN 77)
- Costco-Innovel / RXO Home Delivery agreement, as filed by Costco January 15, 2026 (DIN 41)
- Complaint, September 19, 2025 (DIN 5)
- The full docket
The case
Byrd v. Costco Wholesale Corporation, Costco-Innovel Solutions LLC d/b/a Costco Wholesale Logistics, and RXO Last Mile, Inc., Case No. 2025-CA-001320, Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, St. Johns County, Florida. Filed September 19, 2025. Docket sounding March 2, 2027. Costco and RXO deny responsibility. No court has ruled on liability.
The plaintiffs are represented by John D. "Jack" Webb, Jacksonville. Costco is represented by Kevin E. Jakab, Jacksonville. This site is published by Bradley Byrd, a plaintiff.
Contact
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