The Haggard Law Firm’s Todd Michaels has obtained a $1.6 million settlement in a confidential wrongful death negligent security case.
The decedent was a talented and good-natured 19-year-old who enjoyed an exceptionally close relationship with his mother. Michaels says this case was a peculiar, difficult, and incredibly tragic case. “What made this case uniquely challenging is that the victim was shot accidentally by a childhood friend.”
On the day of the shooting, the decedent and his childhood friend were sitting in a gazebo on a residential property.
The property which was aesthetically pleasing had a history of criminal activity. The property owner was oblivious to other crimes that had occurred and to their responsibility to reasonably secure their property. Neither they nor their on-site property management team took any steps to prevent or deter crime on the property.
While in the gazebo the decedent’s friend saw another young man that he had an earlier dispute with walking with his girlfriend through the property. They exchanged words and began firing at each other. The Decedent was struck and killed as the two men fired at each other.
The shooting victim’s mother has started a foundation in his name and dedicated herself to helping families who have lost loved ones to gun violence.
“The facts of this case were extraordinarily difficult. However, the criminal history of the property and complete lack of care on the part of the defendants as well as the spectacular character of the decedent and his mother helped overcome tremendous challenges” said Michaels
