Billionaire wins $50K in lawsuit over yacht decorating tab

A jury has awarded billionaire Thomas Golisano $50,000 in his lawsuit accusing an interior decorator of overcharging him by more than $300,000 when she renovated his yacht.

Golisano said he was pleased the jury agreed Wednesday that the decorator broke an oral agreement to sell furnishings to him at wholesale cost. He said the money will go to Rochester's new Golisano Autism Center.

The Democrat and Chronicle reports decorator Norma Goldman's attorney was disappointed in the verdict. Attorney David Rothenberg said it seemed the jury wanted to renegotiate the price of the project on Golisano's $50 million, 240-foot (73-meter) yacht.

Golisano is married to former tennis star Monica Seles, who testified at trial.

Golisano is the founder of a Rochester-based payroll services company. His main residence is in Florida.