The Haggard Law Firm’s Michael Haggard and Adam Finkel secured a $6.75 million settlement on behalf of the estate of a young parent who was shot and killed at an apartment complex in Tampa, Florida.
Attorneys Haggard and Finkel filed a negligent security wrongful death lawsuit against the property owner and a major nationwide property management company, alleging that the complex was negligently secured despite a well-documented history of criminal activity on the premises.
The Haggard Law Firm’s Pedro Echarte along with co-counsel Nick Kassatly and Daniel Tighe of the Traction Law Group have secured a $3 Million settlement in a negligent security wrongful death case against the owners of Red Roof Inn motel in Jacksonville, Florida.
Case Overview: A Preventable Tragedy
The tragic case involved the murder of Kieron Singleton, who was fatally shot on September 18, 2021, inside a room at the Red Roof Inn, located at 6099 Youngerman Circle, Jacksonville, Florida. On the night of the incident, Andy Williams, a long-term guest at the motel and an alleged drug dealer, entered the room where Mr. Singleton was staying. An argument broke out, and Williams shot and killed Mr. Singleton. Mr. Singleton left behind one surviving son.
A History of Criminal Activity at Red Roof Inn
The wrongful death negligent security lawsuit alleged that the Red Roof Inn had a long-standing history of criminal activity, including drug dealing and other criminal incidents.
Negligent Security Failures
Despite these ongoing issues, the Plaintiff alleged that the property owner and motel operator, Sunstar Orangepark, Inc., failed to implement basic security measures, creating an environment where violent crime was foreseeable. The Plaintiff also alleged that the Red Roof Inn failed to take steps to remove problematic and dangerous guests, including Andy Williams, from the property. The Plaintiff argued that if the motel had enforced stricter security policies, removed Andy Williams due to his prior behavior at the motel, and taken proactive measures to prevent crime, this tragedy could have been avoided.
Trial lawyer Pedro Echarte
Legal Challenges & Key Arguments
One of the primary challenges in this case was that the fatal shooting occurred inside a motel room, rather than in a common area. However, the Plaintiff’s attorneys built a strong case that around the argument that Mr. Williams should have been removed from the property long before the night in question. The Plaintiff also was able to prove that some of the argument had spilled into the common area and if the Red Roof Inn had much needed security, they could have stopped the incident before it escalated to a shooting.
Justice for Victims of Negligent Security
At The Haggard Law Firm, we excel in premises liability and negligent security cases across the country, helping families seek justice after preventable tragedies. If you or a loved one has suffered due to a property owner’s negligence, contact our experienced legal team today. 📞 Call (305) 446.5700 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.
The Florida Third District Court of Appeals has upheld a $13 million verdict in a wrongful death product liability case litigated by The Haggard Law Firm, led by attorneys Pedro Echarte and Todd Michaels, along with co-counsel Ernesto Santos of HALPERN | SANTOS | PINKERT, and Haggard Law appellate attorney Jim Blecke. This decision, which stems from a verdict in Miami-Dade County Court in July 2023, involves the carbon monoxide poisoning death of Matthew Burns, a beloved father of two, resulting from his use of a piece of equipment he rented from Sunbelt Rentals, Inc.
Court’s Decision on Expert Testimony
The court’s ruling addressed the defendant’s objections regarding the testimony of two plaintiff’s experts under the Daubert standard, as well as the claim that one of the Estate’s experts provided “surprise” testimony. Sunbelt Rentals, the defendant in the case, argued that excluding this expert testimony would have left the record insufficient to support the jury’s verdict and requested an entire dismissal of the case. The appellate court rejected these arguments and affirmed the jury’s decision, ensuring justice for the Burns family (click below to read the court opinion).
On July 12, 2019, Matthew Burns tragically lost his life due to carbon monoxide poisoning while operating a “Shot Blaster” machine, which he had rented from Sunbelt Rentals. Attorneys Echarte, Michaels, and Santos argued that Sunbelt Rentals was negligent in renting out the equipment without the necessary safety equipment, including a carbon monoxide monitor, and failing to warn Mr. Burns of the need for such equipment. Sunbelt was aware that the machine would be used in indoor or partially enclosed environments, putting operators like Mr. Burns at serious risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. The legal team further highlighted that Sunbelt Rentals failed to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings in the machine’s manual. As per the manufacturer’s safety guidelines, Sunbelt should have informed Mr. Burns to use a portable carbon monoxide monitor and ensure he received proper training before operating the machine.
Matthew Burns’ Family’s Heartbreaking Loss
Matthew Burns left behind his wife and their twin children. Through their dedicated legal work, The Haggard Law Firm has ensured that the Burns family received justice for their devastating loss and highlighted the urgent need for better safety standards in the rental equipment industry.
Experienced Attorneys in Complex Product Liability Cases
The Haggard Law Firm has a proven track record in handling some of the most complex product liability cases nationwide. Our team has represented families affected by dangerous products ranging from faulty theme park rides to defective boating equipment, unsafe sports gear, and hazardous pool drains. We are committed to helping victims of product failures seek justice and compensation for their losses.
The Haggard Law Firm, led by Michal Haggard and Kimberly Wald, along with co-counsel, Gregory Kraemer of Morgan & Morgan secured a $26 million policy limits settlement in a near-fatal drowning case involving a 2-year-old boy. Jasper Richard, suffered a catastrophic brain injury after gaining access to an apartment complex pool in Las Vegas, Nevada. The incident, which took place in May 2023 at the Summer Winds apartment complex, has brought attention to critical issues related to pool safety and property management.
The Haggard Law Firm, led by trial lawyers Kimberly Wald and Michael Haggard, along with co-counsel Charlie Flynn and Paul Basil, have obtained a $7.65 million settlement in a negligent security wrongful death case.
The Haggard Law Firm’s Todd Michaelsand Joshua Padron , along with co-counsel David Scheiner and Stratton Shiner of the David Smiley of the Scheiner Law Firm, recently secured a **$7.35 million settlement** in a negligent security wrongful death case in Palm Beach County, Florida. This settlement underscores the firm’s continued commitment to advocating for victims and their families in the face of unimaginable and preventable loss.
Pedro Echarte of The Haggard Law Firm and Mark B. Stanley of The Stanley Law Group, have successfully resolved an $11 million settlement in a wrongful death case centered on negligent security. This case arose from a tragic shooting incident at an apartment complex in Duval County, Florida, in 2020. The victim was fatally shot while visiting the complex, leaving behind two grieving parents and a child who was born posthumously.
Echarte and Stanley argued that the apartment complex failed to provide adequate security, especially given its extensive history of criminal activity. In contrast, the defendants contended that the existing security measures were sufficient and that the victim bore responsibility for the incident.
The Haggard Law Firm’s Pedro Echarte, trial lawyer
The case was resolved shortly before trial, resulting in a settlement of $11 million. The identities of the parties involved and the specific date of the incident remain confidential as stipulated by the settlement agreement.
The Haggard Law Firm has a proven track record, having litigated hundreds of negligent security cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic injury. Recently, Echarte secured a $7 million settlement in a similar case involving a preventable homicide at an apartment complex. Over the past two decades, The Haggard Law Firm has secured over $1 Billion in verdicts and settlements in cases related to negligent or inadequate security.
The Haggard Law Firm’s Douglas McCarron along with co-counsel Mark Brumer, has secured a $2 Million policy limit settlement in a fatal drowning case against the City of Miami Beach.
The Haggard Law Firm’s Pedro Echarte has secured a $7 Million settlement in negligent security wrongful death case where the victim was tragically killed during an attempted armed robbery and carjacking.
On the morning of August 18, 2022, Dimithry Remarais mailed two stuffed animals to his daughters living in Kentucky. That evening, at around 10:30 p.m., while walking to his car parked within the Windward Vista Apartments in Lauderhill, Florida (Broward County), to go to work, he was confronted by armed men who carjacked him. They shot and killed him. Dimithry’s daughters received those stuffed animals after their father was murdered.
A property with a history of crime in the parking lots and noting that private security personnel never responded to the shooting, nor ever spoke with law enforcement, Mike Haggard and Adam Finkel of The Haggard Law Firm served a pre-suit demand for Excel Security Inc’s $6 Million policy limits. The trial lawyers argued that Excel shirked its duty as the retained private security company for the apartment complex. Haggard and Finkel said the security company’s failure to properly advise the property owners and managers regarding the breadth of security needed to reasonably protect residents from foreseeable crime, and the failure to be present at the time of the shooting and deter the criminals, contributed to this preventable tragedy. Excel agreed to pay its policy limits to settle the Estate’s claims against the security company.
Managing Partner Michael HaggardTrial lawyer Adam Finkel
After a pre-discovery settlement demand for $12 Million Dollars was not accepted by the apartment complex’s property owners, Haggard and Finkel dove into litigation. Receiving a treasure trove of emails detailing ownership and management’s knowledge that the security company did not adequately carry out their duties and crime was increasing in number and severity. A deposition of the property manager from the time of the incident solidified that Windward Vista failed to have reasonable security in place, and failed to reasonably secure the property from an ownership and management standpoint. As the property manager no longer worked for the defendants, The Haggard Law Firm was able to locate and speak with her. During her deposition she all but admitted that the security company should have been fired, but was not. In the months to follow, and using this key deposition, The Haggard Law Firm was able to begin building the foundation for trial and to pit the defendants against one another, all the while continuing to collect more discovery and engage with more present and former residents and guests that would serve as witnesses at trial.
The defense, on the other hand, maintained that the entire criminal incident was too quick to be deterrable, and even suggested that a syringe found on the evidence list suggested that Dimithry was either using or selling drugs. Appreciating the tremendous value of this case, and steadfast in its belief that Dimithry was an innocent man, The Haggard Law Firm served proposals for settlement to each property owner and manager, and made clear that the case would either be tried or settled in vast excess of these proposals. The defendants nevertheless rejected the proposals for settlement and continued into litigation.
Without the need for mediation, and with discovery, demands, and depositions continuing forward, the matter ultimately settled against the property owners and managers for $15 Million, equating to a total settlement of $21 Million Dollars.Three men have since been arrested for Dimithry’s murder due to the hard work of the Lauderhill Police Department.
