FORT PIERCE — A jury says Lewis Barton owes Peter Angelos $63,797 for legal fees and other expenses from the two men’s court battle over Chuck’s Seafood.

The three-man, three-woman jury deliberated about 40 minutes after a one-day trial at the St. Lucie County Courthouse, reaching their decision late Wednesday evening.

Angelos bought the eatery on Seaway Drive on Hutchinson Island in 1986 and sold it to Barton in May 2004 for $1.45 million. However, when Barton failed to keep up payments, Angelos went to court to get the restaurant back, and after a seven-month legal battle, he did.

Acting as his own attorney, Barton admitted he owed Angelos some money, but not the nearly $75,000 Angelos was seeking.

By Tyler Treadway, TCPalm.com