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$10.1 Million Settlement in Negligent Security Case Involving Father Paralyzed in Shooting

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$10.1 Million Settlement in Negligent Security Case Brought by 22 year old Father Paralyzed in Shooting

Miami, FL – The homeowners association, property manager, and other related entities at a Miami townhome community have agreed to pay more than $10 million dollars to 22-year-old Bryan Perez and his infant son to settle a negligent security lawsuit.

On August 18th 2014, in an attempted armed home invasion robbery, Perez was shot 6 times in his family’s rental unit at the Carmel Lakes townhome community, which is located at 20761 NE 4th Place Miami, Florida 33179.  As a result of the crime, Perez was rendered an incomplete paraplegic. Perez had recently moved to the complex with his family and was unaware of its history of crime, which consisted of numerous burglaries and armed robberies. The Haggard Law Firm’s Pedro Echarte who litigated the case says “the community’s security measures were entirely inadequate to protect its residents and tenants.”

On the night of the incident, Perez was on his porch with a friend when three gunmen approached and asked for a safe that was in the home.  Perez and his family were the victims of a burglary at the same unit a few months before the subject shooting, had purchased a safe to store their valuables as a result, and the box for that safe was on the porch at the time of the shooting.  While demanding Perez and his guest enter the home, Perez attempted to close a sliding glass door in an effort to protect his family, including his then-pregnant girlfriend, mother, and little sister who were all inside the home at the time of the incident.  The gunmen proceeded to start shooting through the glass door, hitting Perez multiple times.

Echarte says the evidence against those responsible for needed security at Carmel Lakes was overwhelming, including:

Continue reading “$10.1 Million Settlement in Negligent Security Case Involving Father Paralyzed in Shooting”

Register for Negligent Security Litigation Webinar

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On Thursday, October 20th The Haggard Law Firm’s Todd Michaels will present a webinar on litigating negligent security cases. Haggard Law  specializes in prosecuting wrongful death and catastrophic injury negligent security cases. During the webinar titled Trying A Negligent Security Case: A Plaintiff Lawyers Guide To Destroying The Premises And Staying Out Of The Weeds,  Michaels will provide a guide for other Plaintiff’s attorneys in how to successfully prosecute these important cases.  Continue reading “Register for Negligent Security Litigation Webinar”

Are Wal-Mart’s Safe? The World’s No. 1 Retailer’s Negligent Security Problems

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The Daily Business Review recently published an article authored by The Haggard Law Firm’s Christopher Marlowe regarding the rampant security issues at Wal-Mart stores across the country.

In the article, Marlowe discusses how Wal-Mart is well aware of the frequent crime that takes place on properties across the country. The Haggard Law attorney litigated a case against the world’s number 1 retailer where a woman was kidnapped from a Wal-Mart parking lot and brutally raped in her kidnapper’s vehicle over several hours and miles of driving.

The text of the article as it appears in the Daily Business Review:

Continue reading “Are Wal-Mart’s Safe? The World’s No. 1 Retailer’s Negligent Security Problems”

Prestigious Honor for Haggard Law’s Brenner from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

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In a ceremony to be held on November 5th, The Haggard Law Firm’s Jason Brenner will receive the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s  40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of South Florida award.

Brenner was nominated by his peers for this honor. This is the second consecutive year a Haggard Law Firm attorney was named to this list. Last year,  attorney Pedro Echarte was awarded the same honor.

The gala event recognizing 40 outstanding lawyers of South Florida under the age of 40 and benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will be held at Florida International University.   For more information on attending the event, please contact:

Stephanie Wilson
Development Director – Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
954-739-5006
swilson@cff.org

About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The CF Foundation is the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis, and nearly every CF-specific drug available today was made possible with our financial support. It is a donor-funded, 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is fully accredited by the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance program.

$1.8 Million Negligent Security Case Result Featured by DBR

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The Daily Business Review has just published an article featuring the recent $1.8 million negligent security case settlement delivered by the Haggard Law Firm.

In the article, Haggard Law attorney Douglas McCarron describes how the inaction by the property owners of a Tampa apartment complex who refused to invest in proper security measures despite pleas from property management, directly contributed to the shooting death of a 23-year-old father of three.

To read the full article click the images below or this link

 

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McCarron to Present Negligent Security Gameplan During National Conference Today

 

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Later today,  The Haggard Law Firm’s Douglas McCarron will  lead a presentation during The 2016 National Crime Victim Bar Association’s National Conference  in Philadelphia. The Conference is currently underway in conjunction with the National Center for Victims of Crime’s 2016 National Training Institute.

McCarron’s presentation,  Negligent Security Case Gameplan: “Blocking & Tackling Fundamentals Mixed with Razzle Dazzle”, his highly demonstrative , interactive and will highlight what every Victim’s lawyers must know presenting their Negligent Security case.

Continue reading “McCarron to Present Negligent Security Gameplan During National Conference Today”

NEGLIGENT SECURITY CASE RESULT: $1.8 Million to Family of Murdered Father

 

 

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Del Rio Apartment Complex Owners Ignored Multiple Requests from Staff to Increase Security

 Tampa – The companies that once owned the Avesta Del Rio Apartment Complex have agreed to pay the family of 23-year-old murder victim Damian Bowie $1.8 million to settle a negligent security lawsuit.  The lawsuit filed by Douglas McCarron of The Haggard Law Firm (www.haggardlawfirm.com) alleged that the deadly 2014 shooting that claimed Bowie’s life could have been prevented if complex ownership took action after multiple requests by staff members to better secure the property.

On March 2, 2014, Bowie visited the Del Rio apartments (5013 E. Sligh Avenue, Tampa) to spend time with friends before going to pick up his son Damian Jr. But, shortly before 4 p.m. that day, the father of three was assaulted, shot and killed on the property.

 “Through the course of our investigation, which included testimony by the defendant’s property manager, it was clear that the employees at the property were pleading for more security and consistently telling upper management how people’s lives were are risk. Instead of acting responsibly, the defendant simply turned a blind eye” said McCarron.

The lawsuit against 5013 Sligh LLC and Avesta Homes on behalf of the victim’s mother and his three children Damian Jr. (5), Damion (3) and Sincere (2 – born two months after his father was killed), alleged the property’s owners knew the area and property were considered high crime areas. McCarron adds, “unfortunately their inaction allowed this tragedy to occur and now three young boys will never see their father again.”

The lawsuit highlights:

  • Testimony from a property manager and documented crime statistics that confirm the complex and area that surrounds is a high crime area.
  • An email sent by Kerrie Richardson, property manager of the complex at the time of the shooting,  to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department requesting an off duty police officer (sent six months before the murder) because of the amount of crime
  • An email from Richardson to corporate for directions on what to do with a tenant that asked for termination of their lease after they were robbed at gunpoint and had their car broken into in just three months.
  • A request by Richardson to property owners asking for expanded security for daytime hours. Bowie was murdered at 4 p.m.

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The victim’s family members hope new attention on this case will help police. No one has been charged in the crime.

It should be noted that the defendants in this case currently do NOT own the Avesta Del Rio Complex.

 

10 Year Old Drowns In Jacksonville Hotel Pool

Authorities say a 10-year-old girl who was taken to the hospital following a near-drowning at a Jacksonville hotel has died.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reports the Pensacola girl was swimming at the Hilton Garden Inn pool late Saturday night with three young family members. At some point she went underwater. Two of the children tried to pull her out of the pool, while the third child ran to an employee of the property for help.

When deputies arrived at the hotel, CPR was being performed on the girl. Patrol deputies took over CPR efforts until St. Johns County Fire Rescue paramedics arrived and took the girl to Beaches Baptist. She was then air lifted to Wolfson Children’s Hospital, where she later died.

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Authorities said they believe there were no adults present with the children at the time, and the pool was apparently closed to swimming before the incident.

Christopher Marlowe of The Haggard Law Firm says this most recent tragedy should remind businesses of the imperative responsibility to fully secure their pools.

Continue reading “10 Year Old Drowns In Jacksonville Hotel Pool”

Haggard Law Negligent Security Presentation at ASIS International Conference

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Pictured above is our Todd Michaels conducting one of two negligent security presentations during the 62nd Annual ASIS International Annual Seminar and Exhibits conference. ASIS International is a global community of security practitioners. More than 20,000 people are expected to attend the conference currently underway in Orlando.

The presentation: How to Avoid a $100,000,000 Verdict Against Your Business. Michaels is also scheduled for a separate presentation during this week’s conference.

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Since 2007, The Haggard Law Firm has litigated more than 155 negligent security cases that have resulted in more than $345 in verdicts and settlement including a $102.7 million verdict in Barrack vs Report Investment Corporation (Learn more negligent security notable cases, click here)

The conference is the organization’s largest event of the year.

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Haggard Law Attorneys to Discuss Litigating Accident Cases Involving Uber During CLE Event

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The Association for Safe International Travel reports that 37,000 people die in car accidents per year in the United States while another 2.35 million are injured or disabled. An estimated 180,000 people are driving for Uber. That number continues to grow. So with this kind of volume and activity it is inevitable that the number of accidents involving this driving service will rise.

So if a personal injury attorney’s client was injured in a crash involving Uber, what should the lawyer consider when litigating that case?

 

That is the topic of discussion that will be lead by Haggard Law attorneys Jason Brenner and Todd Michaels during this month’s Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice  CLE program.

Uber Duber Do…Your Client Was in an Accident with Uber, Now What Do You Do? is one of the sessions that will be offered to attendees of the program as part of the Auto Negligence Seminar to be conducted on Wednesday, September 28th. There are a few more spots available for this seminar. To learn more about it and register click here. The FJA Masters of Justice Program will be held in Orlando from September 28th through the 30th.

Attending this year’s FJA Masters of Justice program is a great way to renew the excitement and focus on your mission as a personal injury attorney. Make plans NOW to register to attend to ensure you have the strategies and techniques in your toolbox that have proven to work for other attorneys in civil litigation cases. You’ll be sure to take away valuable information and innovative ideas that can immediately aid you in your efforts to assist your clients in their cases.