$2 Million Settlement in Negligent Security Case Involving Apartment Complex that Didn’t Remove Problem Resident Before He Stabbed Plaintiff 12 Times
Pompano Beach, FL – Patricia Norris never knew the danger she entered when she moved to the Palm Aire Gardens Apartments in late 2016. For nearly ten months the manager of the complex had received complaints from multiple young female residents that a resident named Charles Gipson was threatening, harassing, and stalking them. One resident even took out a restraining order against him. Despite the warnings, neither the Palm Aire Gardens Condominium Association nor property managers (First Service Residential Florida) took any steps to keep residents safe from Gipson.
Patricia Norris was never warned about the dangerous neighbor. On the morning of April 4,, 2017 while entering her apartment, Gipson attacked her with a knife. Norris was stabbed 12 times. She was able to get away and ran into the condo management office where she collapsed.
Since the violent attack, Norris has had two surgeries on two fingers due to limited motion, she has scars about her body, and continues to deal with the mental health issues the incident has caused.
On January 6, 2019 The Palm Aire Gardens Condominium Association and First Service Residential of Florida settled the civil complaint against them for $2 Million. Patricia Norris was represented by attorneys Todd Michaels of The Haggard Law Firm and Jon Zepnick of Jon Zepnick, P.A.
The Haggard Law Firm has successfully litigated hundreds of negligent security cases involving apartment complexes, hotels, gas stations, schools and other business over the years. To learn more about negligent security cases, click here
