The Haggard Law Firm’s Adam Finkel and Michael Haggard secured a $5.5 Million settlement in a negligent security case filed in Palm Beach County, FL.
On February 14, 2023, 28-year-old Troy Nichols was fatally shot outside a bar and grill located beneath The Sands Hotel in Riviera Beach, Florida. His death was the foreseeable result of a property owner and operator’s systemic failure to provide adequate security, despite a long history of violent crime on the premises.
The Haggard Law Firm—recognized as a leading firm handling negligent security and inadequate security cases—was brought in to investigate and litigate the matter on behalf of Troy’s longtime girlfriend and the mother of his child. What followed was a meticulous investigation, aggressive litigation strategy, and a refusal to accept insurance excuses—resulting in a $5.5 million recovery for Troy’s young son.
A Foreseeable Crime on a Dangerous Property
On the night he was killed, Troy Nichols was inside the bar when he was confronted by Lawrence Mitchell, an individual well known for causing disturbances on the property. After the initial confrontation, Troy exited the bar and retreated into the parking lot. Mitchell followed him—and shot him.
This was not an unforeseeable act of violence.
The property had a documented history of criminal activity, much of it tied directly to the bar operating beneath the hotel. Yet the owners and operators of the property failed to implement meaningful security measures to protect patrons, guests, and the public.
Exposing the Reality Behind the Property’s Ownership and Management
Represented initially by Stephen Mickelsen of Mickelsen | Dalton, Troy’s family sought the assistance of Michael A. Haggard and Adam Finkel, partners at The Haggard Law Firm. The firm immediately launched an in-depth negligent security investigation and filed a premises liability lawsuit against:
- The Fairway Trust (property owner)
- The Sands Hotel & Apts, LLC (property operator)
Through discovery, Haggard and Finkel uncovered the intertwined and self-serving structure behind the property’s ownership and management. The Villari family were:
- Beneficiaries of the Fairway Trust
- Co-managing members of The Sands Hotel & Apts, LLC
- ultimately responsible for security decisions on the property
A family friend—installed as co-manager—was placed in charge of “security,” eliminating any separation between ownership, management, and safety oversight. This structure allowed the firm to establish that knowledge of danger held by one entity was shared by all.
Inadequate Security Measures That Failed to Protect Anyone
Discovery revealed that the defendants were well aware that the bar was a magnet for criminal activity. Despite this knowledge, they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent violent crime, including:
- No effective, skilled or licensed security guards
- No uniformed or armed personnel
- No meaningful deterrence of known criminal behavior
Instead, so-called “security guards” were often employees from the Villari family’s karate studio or personal acquaintances, inadequately trained and unequipped to manage a high-risk property. These individuals were not in uniform, not armed, and had no measurable impact on safety.
When confronted with these failures, the defendants attempted to shift blame by claiming the parking lot was owned by the city. However, the evidence demonstrated that the lot was still their responsibility and required professional, uniformed security—or the removal of the bar tenant altogether, something the owners had the power to do but chose not to.
Refusing to Accept Insurance Denials and Half Measures
As trial approached, the defendants—while refusing to admit fault—sought resolution. The damages were staggering: Troy’s infant son would grow up without a father due to a preventable act of violence.
The primary insurance carrier quickly tendered its $1 million policy limits. The excess insurer, however, attempted to avoid responsibility altogether, arguing a technicality—that it insured “The Sands Hotel” but not the named defendant, The Sands Hotel & Apts, LLC.
Many law firms would have stopped there. The Haggard Law Firm did not.
Working alongside co-counsel Edward Zebersky, Haggard and Finkel took the fight directly to the insurance company. Through relentless advocacy and coverage litigation strategy, Haggard, Finkel, and Zebersky secured an additional $4.5 million, bringing the total recovery to $5.5 million for Troy’s son.
Criminal Accountability and Civil Justice
In parallel criminal proceedings, Lawrence Mitchell was convicted of second-degree murder. But criminal convictions do not hold property owners accountable for creating dangerous environments. Civil litigation does.
This case stands as a powerful reminder that property owners and operators can—and must—be held accountable when they fail to provide reasonable security and innocent people are harmed as a result.
National Leaders in Negligent Security Litigation
For decades, The Haggard Law Firm has been at the forefront of negligent security and premises liability litigation, taking on hotels, apartment complexes, bars, nightclubs, resorts, and commercial property owners.
If you or a loved one has been injured—or killed—due to inadequate security, experience matters. Results matter. Relentless advocacy matters.
Contact The Haggard Law Firm today to speak with attorneys who know how to uncover the truth, confront powerful defendants, and fight insurance companies that refuse to do what’s right.
