330 Alhambra Circle

Coral Gables, FL 33134

633 S. Andrews Avenue Suite 400
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

(305) 446-5700

(954) 323-4400

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$1 Million Pre-Suit Settlement in Gas Station Murder Case

The Haggard Law Firm’s Michael Haggard and Adam Finkel have obtained a $1 Million pre-suit settlement in a negligent security wrongful death case against a gas station operator.

On July 15, 2020, just before midnight 20-year-old Zion Lamar was shot and killed at a Solo gas station in Pompano Beach. Zion lived nearby with his girlfriend and was sent to purchase snacks but never returned home.

Precisely what transpired is unknown as the owner of the gas station did not install functioning surveillance cameras, nor did the clerk respond to audible commotion occurring on the property. Although there is a cell phone video of Zion writhing on the ground, he died shortly thereafter and there is no known eyewitness testimony. It is believed that an altercation occurred outside involving several people, during which Zion was shot.

This settlement was reached after The Haggard Law Firm presented its position regarding the clear liability in this case and the damages associated with the death of a young man. While the defense could not contest the staggering history of daily drug dealing, public intoxication, and violence at the gas station, the defense contested the Plaintiff’s description of the damages in the case.

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$1 Million Pre-Suit Settlement in Trucking Crash Injury Case

The Haggard Law Firm’s Douglas McCarron, along with co-counsel Jorge Rodriguez of the Law Office of Jorge A. Rodriguez, has obtained a $1 Million pre-suit settlement in a trucking crash case involving a critically injured pedestrian.

On March 5th, 2020, Masguel Machado, a driver for DHC Trucking, was stopped at the traffic signal located at the intersection of NW 17th Avenue and NW 18th Street in Miami, Florida.  The intersection is located in a highly traversed area that has a number of businesses surrounding it.  Pedestrians crossing the street to and from these businesses is common. 

Shortly before the incident, Haggard Law client Manuel Anduray attempted to cross the street from the west side of NW 17th Avenue.  This intersection had a crosswalk at the intersection, but no “Walk/Do not Walk” signals.

While the 63-year-old was crossing, the traffic signal changed from red to green.  Moments later Machado ran him over causing Anduray catastrophic injuries to his leg, spine, arm, and head. 

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$5 Million Pre-Suit Settlement Obtained for Father of 4 Paralyzed in Shooting

Miami, FL – The Haggard Law Firm’s Michael Haggard and Adam Finkel have obtained a $5 Million pre-suit settlement in a negligent security case involving the catastrophic injury suffered by a father of four who was with his children when he was shot outside his home.

On December 20, 2019, 33-year old Paul Barry-Austin returned home from a long day of work. It was a nice day so his wife was enjoying the weather outside with their children. The day drastically turned when she noticed a few unknown men roaming the Alhambra Cove Apartment complex’s parking lot. She noticed the men more than once, roaming suspiciously, and expressed concern to Paul. Worried for the safety of his family and aware that the property owners and managers did nothing to prevent or curtail the many burglaries, car thefts, and assaults on the property, Paul walked through the parking lot to make sure the men were not near his home. Soon after, Paul’s wife heard gunshots, and Paul was found lying in the parking lot in a puddle of blood. He had been shot in the back—likely by the very criminals that roamed the property.

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$2 Million Dram Shop Settlement in Case Involving Death of a Police Officer Who Was a Young Father

The Haggard Law Firm’s Michael Haggard and Adam Finkel together with Michael Davis of Boone & Davis, obtained a $2 Million total settlement in a dram shop case that involved the death of a police officer.

On February 16, 2019, Curtis Woolwine went out drinking in Broward County. He began the evening at Billy’s Tavern (Happy Hour, LLC) a bar that his wife’s family-owned. After leaving Billy’s, at around 11:40 p.m., Woolwine stumbled into Round Up Country, continued drinking, and was ultimately thrown out for acting inappropriately towards women. It is believed that Woolwine was trying to drive home when he ended up traveling in the wrong direction on Interstate 75. Tragically, he crashed his car into Steven Greco a Miccosukee police officer on his way home from work. They both died. Steven is survived by his wife, Phoebe, and their daughter, Gianna.

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PRESS CONFERENCE: Miramar Parkway Police Shootout

On Thursday, October 8th a press conference will be held to discuss new findings in the shooting deaths of Frank Ordonez, Rick Cutshaw, and the injuries suffered by Carlos Lara during the December 2019 police shootout on the Miramar Parkway following a two county high-speed chase.

The Haggard Law Firm’s Michael Haggard and Adam Finkel will discuss a new witness who says the police shot first. The lawyers will also announce the intention to file a lawsuit on behalf of victim Rick Cutshaw’s family

Background

On December 15, 2019 UPS driver Frank Ordonez, 27, was taken hostage by two men, who stole his truck after robbing a Coral Gables jewelry store. A high-speed, two-county chase with multiple police departments ensued.

It ended when the UPS truck encountered stopped traffic at an intersection of the Miramar Parkway just west of Flamingo Road. Law enforcement boxed-in the delivery truck and officers exited their vehicles.

As officers approached the truck with their weapons drawn, using bystanders’ vehicles as cover, they opened fire on the robbers and Mr. Ordonez. Through the course of the shootout the kidnappers, Ordonez, and 70-year-old bystander Rick Cutshaw were killed. Bystander Carlos Lara suffered significant injuries.

A lawsuit on behalf of Ordonez and Lara was filed against six law enforcement agencies on September 16, 2020.  

‘Miramar Parkway Police Shootout’ Press Conference

When: Thursday October 8, 2020 – 1 PM EST

Where: Hyatt Regency Coral Gables (Alcazabra Room)

50 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables, FL, 33134 USA

Speakers:

  • Jasmine Martinez – mother of Frank Ordonez’s two daughters
  • Luz Apolimario  – Frank Ordonez’s mother)
  • Michael Haggard, attorney, The Haggard Law Firm
  • Adam Finkel, attorney, The Haggard Law Firm

Livestream: The press conference will be live streamed on The Haggard Law Firm Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HaggardLawFirm

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: J.P. HERVIS 305.321.4293

*Only credentialed members of the media are invited to attend

*All CDC-guided COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place.

$5.5 Million Settlement in Wrongful Death/Automobile Crash Case

The Haggard Law Firm’s Adam Finkel and Michael Haggard held a press conference to announce the $5.5 Million settlement with Spitzer Autoworld in the wrongful death case of 3-year-old Anthony Rojo De Leon.

The child was killed on Valentine’s Day when the General Manager of the dealership recklessly drove a vehicle off the road.

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Job Opening: Legal Assistant/Paralegal

The Haggard Law Law Firm seeks an experienced legal assistant/paralegal for the Managing Partner of a plaintiff personal injury law firm in Miami, Florida. Candidate must have at least 3 years of experience in a law firm.
Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and without supervision.
Excellent organizational skills, time management, and professional etiquette required. The ideal candidate must be meticulous with the attorney’s calendar and be able to handle demanding deadlines.
Seeking bilingual candidates — fluent in both English and Spanish.
Job duties include but are not limited to:
1. Communicating with clients
2. Electronic filing of Court documents
3. Handling discovery matters
4. Scheduling hearings, depositions, meetings, etc.
5. Assisting with trial preparation.
6. General office duties
Compensation based on experience.
Job Type: Full-time

RESULT: $1 Million Settlement in Shooting Death of Innocent Bystander

The Haggard Law Firm’s Todd Michaels and Michael Haggard have earned a $1 Million policy limit settlement in wrongful death negligent security case of 30-year-old Omarie Stephens was shot and killed at the Lauderhill Mall on Easter Day of 2018.

After spending Easter morning with his family, he went to a car show in a park with his brother and friends. After the show, he went to a restaurant located in Lauderhill Mall to eat. When Omarie and his group arrived at the mall there was a large party going on in the parking lot. The car show had relocated to the mall, which was closed (except for a few tenants including the restaurant).

Video surveillance showed thousands of cars and people in the mall parking lot. Evidence also showed that people were drinking alcohol and doing drugs. The mall’s parking lot had basically turned into an open-air unsupervised night club.

Screen Shot from security video of the Lauderhill Mall Parking lot the night Mr. Stephens was shot and killed

The Mall had retained State Security to provide security. After the mall closed (other than the few late-night tenants) security was supposed to perform constant patrols in the lot and remove trespassers immediately. The evidence clearly showed that over a period of hours, revelers descended on the property, and security was nowhere to be found. They made no attempt to remove people from the property or to contact the police as they were ordered.

In a deposition, the security guard claimed that he encountered a police officer on the property and asked him for help as justification for why he decided not to call police. Police records and the surveillance video disapprove this. After being confronted with the evidence, the security guard admitted he had not come to the front of the mall during the three hour period that people were gathering at the property.

During the gathering, two men got into a fight leading to gunshots. Mr. Stevens, and innocent bystander, was shot and killed. Stephens survived by two minor daughters.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OTHER NOTABLE HAGGARD LAW FIRM NEGLIGENT SECURITY CASES

JUST IN: $10 Million Settlement in Negligent Security Case

The Haggard Law Firm’s Douglas McCarron has secured a $10 Million settlement in a negligent security case. Several details of the case are confidential per terms of the settlement.


The Haggard Law Firm’s client was driving through the apartment complex on his way to meet a friend. As John Doe drove he heard shots, a bullet pierced through the trunk of his car and struck him in his lower back. Doe immediately lost sensation in his lower extremities, and he was unable to control or stop his vehicle before it crashed into parked cars in the parking lot.

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$1 Million Policy Settlement for Robbery Victim Shot 3 Times

The Haggard Law Firm’s Todd Michaels and attorney Michael Lewenz of Zebersky Payne have obtained a $1 Million policy limits settlement in a negligent security case where the victim was shot three times.

Learn more about Negligent Security Cases

On July 22, 2018 Dennis Barker entered the Fiesta Food Market in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to make a purchase. After exiting the market, while still on the defendants’ property, Mr. Barker was confronted by an assailant who robbed him at gunpoint. During the confrontation the assailant shot Mr. Barker three times.

The gunshots caused major injury, primarily to Mr. Barker‘s left leg. As a result of his injury Mr. Barker had no recollection of the incident.

An investigation showed that the convenience store had a four-year criminal history including six narcotic incidents, four robberies, and two aggravated assaults. The property had no reasonable security features and had been in violation of the Convenience Business Security Act, a Florida Statute which sets minimum security standards for convenience businesses.

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