Crime Victim Attorney Archives - Page 10 of 13

$12 Million Haggard Law Verdict Featured in VerdictSearch Periodical

Posted on March 6, 2018 by HaggardTeam

A recent issue of the VerdictSearch periodical named a $12 Million verdict earned by Haggard Law in a wrongful death, negligent security case as the “Featured Verdict” of the month.

Background of Case

A Miami Dade County jury awarded the parents of Yaimi Guevara Machado $12 million following a five-day trial that originated from a wrongful death negligent security lawsuit filed against the Chesapeake Motel.

On April 10, 2016, their daughter, 30-year-old Machado was locked out of her hotel room only wearing a bra and jeans when she asked the staff of the Hialeah motel for help . They refused. Moments later, police say, she was beaten to death by Ronald Lopez Andrade who has been charged with first-degree murder.

Machado’s family filed the lawsuit against the owners of the Chesapeake Motel because they believe its staff had several opportunities to prevent the tragedy. Along with not assisting Machado when she approached them, the hotel’s staff:

Allowed Andrade, who was not a hotel guest, to linger on the property
sold Andrade alcohol
fielded a request from the inebriated Andrade for help to find a prostitute
did not kick Andrade off property when he sought sexual favors from a housekeeper

The Haggard Law Firm’s Christopher Marlowe and Jason Brenner were joined by co-counsel, Alexis Izquierdo, in litigating this case.

Over the last decade, The Haggard Law Firm has handled hundreds of premises liability / negligent security cases, delivering more than $300 million in verdicts and settlement in that time.

To read the entire feature by VerdictSearch.com click here: http://verdictsearch.com/state/fl/

Media Coverage

The tragic and preventable crime and subsequent verdict was covered by media outlets across the area and internationally. The parents of Machado continue to hope the exposure of the case will help change motel and hotel security policies so no one else loses their loved one

FL. Senate Kills Human Trafficking Survivors Lawsuit Bill

Posted on March 5, 2018 by HaggardTeam

In a move that most would call a surprising, members of a Florida Senate Committee pulled a bill that would allow human trafficking survivors to sue Florida hotels and other businesses where they were sold for sex. The partnering House bill had already passed two committees and was headed to the House floor.

“This was a chance for our state leaders to take a stand against modern day slavery and they chose the hospitality lobby” says Haggard Law Firm Managing Partner Michael Haggard.

Haggard, who is the current president of the National Crime Victim’s Bar Association, added “to say this is disappointing is a vast understatement. Florida ranks as the third worst in number of human trafficking cases in our country. Studies show that the majority of trafficking victims, primarily for sexual exploitation, are abused in hotels and motels.”

The NCVBA has a long-standing commitment to civil justice for victims. As President, Haggard plays an intricate role in advising and setting the annual agenda on what issues the organization will focus on in support of crime victims. This year Haggard has earmarked support of human trafficking victims as a primary goal.

The Orlando Sentinel reported: “…ex trafficking survivors spoke tearfully of betrayal by Florida lawmakers Friday as bills that would have allowed the hotel industry to be sued for willfully ignoring the problem came to a puzzling halt this week…”

The legislation would hold business owners liable if they “knowingly or in willful blindness” facilitate trafficking crimes.

“With or without state leadership, The Haggard Law Firm is 100% committed to using the tool of the civil justice system to hold business owners accountable for their negligence due to ignorance and those who choose to profit on trafficking by seemingly turning a blind eye to this multi-billion dollar criminal enterprise conducted on their property” says Haggard.

Multiple media outlets reported that the hospitality industry, namely The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and Disney, had been lobbying hard against it behind the scenes,

“As crime victim trial attorneys we know civil court remedies will effect change on a wide scale while helping victims pick up the pieces of their life and start a new”

Article Sources

Orlando Sentinel Story: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-disney-asked-to-support-human-trafficking-bill-20180302-story.html

Brandenton herald: http://www.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article203049349.html

What Does Haggard’s Pedro Echarte Enjoy About Litigation

Posted on February 7, 2018 by HaggardTeam

Attorneys, besides achieving a positive result for a client….what is the favorite part of your job?
Our Pedro Echarte says cross examination during a trial or deposition is one element of the litigation process he most enjoys. Why? and what’s the other?

Haggard Law Firm Trial Attorney Pedro Echarte describes what he enjoys the most about the litigation process and the opportunity to help families searching for justice through the civil court process.

In 2016, Echarte litigated a negligent security case involving a young father who was shot 6 times in an attempted home invasion at a condominium located in Miami. As a result of the crime, the 22-year-old was rendered an incomplete paraplegic. Echarte was able to earn a $10.6 million settlement result for the Haggard Law client and his family.

To learn more about Pedro Echarte, click here

Haggard Becomes President of National Crime Victim Bar Association

Posted on January 26, 2018 by HaggardTeam

The Haggard Law Firm’s Managing Partner Michael Haggard assumed his role as the new President of the National Crime Victim Bar Association in 2018. The organization was founded in April 1999, creating the nation’s first professional association of attorneys and expert witnesses dedicated to helping victims seek justice through the civil system. The NCVBA is an affiliate and program of the National Center for Victims of Crime.

CLICK HERE FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

In this video, Haggard discusses how his primary focus this year is to make sure human trafficking victims understand they not only have rights in the criminal justice system but also in the civil justice system.

The Role Crime Statistics Play In a Negligent Security Case

Posted on January 22, 2018 by HaggardTeam

by Jason Brenner, Associate at The Haggard Law Firm

Although each negligent security case may bring about different facts or require ingenuity with your strategy, there are certain elements of your case that remain constant. One of those elements is crime statistics. The importance of crime statistics in your case cannot be stated enough. Not only do these statistics help establish notice and foreseeability to the defendants, they are also a treasure trove of information.

With respect to notice and foreseeability, your crime statistics establish what the defendants “knew or should have known” prior to and at the time of subject incident. So what should you request? You begin by requesting the calls for service and all police reports for the subject property. This needs to be done in one request. From there, depending on your jurisdiction, you will order up to a mile radius for the calls for service. Once you receive each respective request, you must synthesize the data. For example, you will detail the violent and non-violent crimes and their frequency on the property. This provides a picture of what type of crime was going on at the property. It provides you with the ability to illustrate to the jury the level of crime occurring and can be used effectively to show that it is an improbability for a defendant to be unaware of the police being called to the property.

Continue reading “The Role Crime Statistics Play In a Negligent Security Case”

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Posted on January 5, 2018 by HaggardTeam

The Haggard Law Firm recognizes National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month throughout January. The Department of Defense defines Human Trafficking as” a crime in which force, fraud or coercion is used to compel a person to perform labor, services or commercial sex. It affects all populations: adults, children, men, women, foreign nationals and U.S. citizens, and all economic classes.”

Studies show that a large percentage of locations where sex trafficking takes place are commercial businesses like hotels, truck stops and massage parlors.. One survey found hotels and motels are the single-most common venue for sex trafficking in Florida during the first half of 2017. Experts say it is because the traffickers want to remain transient to avoid suspicion and arrest.”

Continue reading “January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month”

Haggard to Lead Negligent Security Seminar During FJA Workhorse Event

Posted on January 2, 2018 by HaggardTeam

The Haggard Law Firm’s Michael Haggard has been invited to once again speak at the Florida Justice Association’s Workhorse Seminar. Set to be held at the Orlando World Center Marriott, this Seminar is one of FJA’s most popular learning events among attorneys throughout the state.

Haggard is scheduled to speak on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 between 8:30 am – 9:00 am. His topic for his Seminar is “Escaping Defense-created Liability Traps in the Handling of Negligent Security Injury and Death Cases.”

Haggard is a longtime member of the FJA and has served in multiple leadership positions over the years. Several months ago, he was recognized with the FJA’s most prestigious honor, the Perry Nichols Award.

About the Workhorse Seminar

The Workhorse Seminar ensures attorneys receive the strategies and techniques needed to enhance the work done every day in civil litigation cases. The FJA guarantees attendees will take away valuable information and innovative ideas that can immediately aid personal injury attorneys’ efforts to assist clients in their cases.

About the Florida Justice Association

The Florida Justice Association (FJA), formerly the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (AFTL), is dedicated to strengthening and upholding Florida’s civil justice system and protecting the rights of Florida’s citizens and consumers.

We passionately believe that all Floridians benefit when deserving individuals have a fair chance to seek justice in our state’s courts and that Florida’s consumers are made safer when large corporations and industries are held to a high ethical standard and accept fair responsibility for their actions.

FJA works in the legislative, political and public arenas to ensure that Floridians know and understand the importance of their rights to justice and to make certain that these rights, which are at the very core of what it means to be American, are safeguarded and protected.

Click here to contact Michael Haggard

Michael Haggard Profile Video produced by the Florida Justice Association for the Perry Nichols Award presentation

South Florida Media Coverage of $12M Negligent Security Verdict

Posted on December 6, 2017 by HaggardTeam

On Monday The Haggard Law Firm hosted a media conference to discuss the recent $12 million verdict earned in the negligent security wrongful death case of Yaimi Guevara Machado. Joined by our brave clients, Machado’s parents and sister, our collective goal was to drive the message home to motel owners to make sure they are taking every necessary step to meet the security needs of your property to ensure the safety of your guests.

In April 2016, Guevara was killed shortly after asking the staff at the Chesapeake Motel in Hialeah Florida to help her after she was locked out of her room wearing only jeans and a bra. No help was given. Security video shows that Ronald Lopezandrade was also on the property that night. He was not a guest of the hotel but he was able to purchase alcohol, requested a prostitute, and made sexual advances on a hotel employee. Despite those red flags, he was never removed from the property. Eventually, the suspect met the victim, gained her trust, gave her his shirt, and walked her to the parking lot. They would disappear from view of the security camera. Police say Ronald Lopezandrade sexually assaulted Machado and then beat her to death.

Media Coverage

Every major TV affiliate and the two major newspapers in South Florida were among the news filed stories along with media outlets that covered (as of the date of this posting).

Miami Herald: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/hialeah/article188070239.html

Nuevo Herald:

CBS Miami

ABC Miami

Telemundo Miami

Continue reading “South Florida Media Coverage of $12M Negligent Security Verdict”

$12 Million Negligent Security Wrongful Death Verdict,Press Conf. Today

Posted on December 4, 2017 by HaggardTeam

MEDIA CONFERENCE MONDAY 1:30PM- Security Video Provided

Local Family of Woman Beaten to Death During Sexual Assault Say Hotel Could Have Prevented Her Murder.

A Miami-Dade County Jury Agreed, Just Ordered Hotel to Pay Parents $12 Million.

Hialeah, FL – Late Friday a Miami Dade County jury awarded the parents of Yaimi Guevara Machado $12 million following a five day trial that originated from a wrongful death negligent security lawsuit filed against the Chesapeake Motel.

On April 10, 2016, the 30-year-old Machado was locked out of her hotel room only wearing a bra and jeans when she asked the staff of the Hialeah motel for help (video/audio available). They refused. Moments later, police say, she was beaten to death by Ronald Lopez Andrade who has been charged with first degree murder.

Allowed Andrade, who was not a hotel guest, to linger on the property
sold Andrade alcohol (video/audio available)
fielded a request from the inebriated Andrade for help to find a prostitute (video/audio available)
did not kick Andrade off property when he sought sexual favors from a housekeeper

Machado’s parents, Julia Machado and Rafael Guevara, hope their successful lawsuit sends a message to budget motels to follow the best practices in the lodging industry to provide the security that will help prevent tragedies like these from destroying another family.

The Haggard Law Firm’s Christopher Marlowe and Jason Brenner were joined by co-counsel, Alexis Izquierdo , in litigating this case.

Over the last decade The Haggard law Firm has handled hundreds of premises liability / negligent security cases, delivering more than $300 million in verdicts and settlement in that time.

Media Conference Details

Continue reading “$12 Million Negligent Security Wrongful Death Verdict,Press Conf. Today”

National Crime Victim Bar Association’s National Conference

Posted on November 30, 2017 by HaggardTeam

Next week our Pedro Echarte will be one of the featured speakers during the 2017 National Crime Victim Bar Association’s National Conference in Portland, Oregon. The event, Civil Actions for Criminal Acts, offers attorneys a chance to network and learn from other attorneys in the field, and connect with victim advocates, counselors, program managers, attorneys, social workers, psychologists, researchers, nurses, volunteers, administrators, clergy, nonprofit managers, system-based service providers, and leaders from across the country.

It will include:

Continue reading “National Crime Victim Bar Association’s National Conference”

Miami

Ft. Lauderdale

Tampa

(305) 446-5700

Category: Crime Victim Attorney