Tech executive wins $2.75M after woman breaks $97K settlement deal with public assault claims

A senior technology executive has won a $2.75 million damages award (approximately £2.1 million) after a US appeals court upheld a ruling against a woman who publicly accused him of assault after accepting money in a confidential settlement. The case of Michael Fitzgerald, et al v. Ronda McNae was decided on November 10, 2026.

The ruling highlights the legal consequences of breaking confidentiality agreements, particularly when a court finds that someone deliberately breached the terms and caused harm to another person's career and reputation. According to the opinion published by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the dispute began with a confidential settlement agreement. Under the deal, Michael Fitzgerald, a technology executive, paid Ronda McNae $97,000 (approximately £79,000) to settle earlier disputes.

Both sides also agreed to keep the agreement and its details private.Confidentiality agreement breachedDespite accepting the payment, McNae later began sharing information that the court found violated the agreement.