Romero, an MMA athlete, sued Gold Star, alleging negligence, products liability, and other claims. The trial court entered a default judgment and awarded $9 million in damages. The court subsequently denied Gold Star’s motion to vacate the default judgment. The New Jersey Appellate Division affirmed the trial court’s denial of Gold Star’s motion to vacate. The Appellate Division reversed and remanded on the issue of damages. The trial court erred because the court did not analyze whether Romero demonstrated a “causal relationship between Gold Star’s unlawful conduct and his ascertainable loss” and reputational damage separate and distinct from his lost wages, income, and emotional distress claims.
