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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$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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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: $1.45 Million in Settlements For 3 Victims Shot at the Same Apt. Complex

The Haggard Law Firm’s Adam Finkel and Michael Haggard have obtained settlements totaling $1,450,000.00 in three negligent security cases involving three victims who were seriously injured in two separate shootings.  Both incidents occurred at the same Duval County (FL) apartment complex.

Attorney Michael Haggard Photo
Managing Partner Michael Haggard

On April 15, 2018, a nineteen-year-old man left his apartment in the early morning to pick up his basketball sneakers from his cousin. When walking back to his apartment, an unknown male shot him from behind. The shooting victim (Plaintiff) was rushed to the hospital and underwent immediate surgery.

Attorney Adam Finkel Photo

Trial lawyer Adam Finkel

December 15, 2018, at the same complex, John Doe (Plaintiff) was returning to the apartment complex to drop off his minor son and nephew at his mother’s home when a vehicle entered the complex, undeterred, and unchecked. Someone exited the vehicle and shot John Doe in the chest as he approached his mother’s front door. His niece (Plaintiff), a minor, was standing at the door and was also struck by a bullet.

Per the terms of the settlements, the names of the victims and the defendant are confidential.

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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Apartment Complex Agrees to $1 Million Policy Limit Settlement in Handyman Murder Case

Opa-Locka, FL –  Palmer Properties has agreed to a  $1 Million pre-suit policy limits settlement with the Estate of Wayne Mitchell who was killed by a neighbor at a Palmer Property-owned apartment complex.

Mitchell was shot and killed two days after his 50th birthday on the grounds of an apartment complex located at 2170 Washington Avenue in Opa-Locka, Florida. On January 7, 2019, Carlos Flores ambushed Mitchell in a hallway of the apartment complex both men lived in. Flores shot Mitchell as he exited his own unit.  An investigation revealed that Flores, who had a violent and lengthy criminal history, was jealous that the building had hired Mitchell instead of him as a handyman.

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Settlement in Naomi Jones Negligent Security Wrongful Death Case

Pensacola, FL – Michael Haggard and Christopher Marlowe have settled the negligent security wrongful death lawsuits involving the abduction and murder of 12-year-old Naomi Jones.

Claims against the principal defendant, the management company of the Pensacola apartment complex where she was abducted, were resolved under confidential terms.

The lawsuit against the owner of the apartment complex was resolved for policy limits of $2,000,000.  

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$1.7 Million Settlement – Trip and Fall Injury Case

The Haggard Law Firm’s Douglas McCarron has obtained a $1.7 million settlement for a woman injured in a trip and fall at a department store.

Some details of the case have been withheld due to terms of confidentiality.

Jane Doe was shopping in…

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$12 Million Negligent Security Verdict Affirmed by Court

The $12 Million verdict in a wrongful death negligent security case against a Hialeah hotel was upheld by the 3rd District Court of Appeals.

The court’s opinion is attached below.

Haggard Law Firm lawyer Christopher Marlowe, who tried the case, said about the affirmed verdict “this opinion is significant to all personal injury cases where there are allegations of the victim’s use of drugs or other intoxicants.  By adopting the well-established evidentiary requirement from a criminal law opinion, the Court made clear that a positive drug test, by itself, is not enough to slander the victim as having been ‘under the influence.’ ”

Synopsis of Case

The victim, Yaimi Machado, was locked out of room 106 of the Chesapeake Motel in Hialeah on April 10, 2016.  The victim entered the lobby of the motel in her bra and jeans and asked for room 106 to be opened by the front desk clerk.  The clerk instructed the victim to go wait outside the door to room 106.  Twenty minutes prior to the victim entering the lobby a man walked in drunk and claimed to be the manager’s son and asked for beer.  The front desk clerk sold the man beer despite the motel’s policy only to sell alcohol to guests.  The man then asks for a prostitute and the clerk tells the man he needed to find servicewomen outside.  The man leaves the lobby and stops at room 104 where a housekeeper is cleaning a room by herself.  The man asks the housekeeper for a kiss and then enters room 104 and asks the housekeeper for a second kiss.  The housekeeper threatens to call the front desk and the man stands at the door to 104 until he sees the victim walking down the hallway toward him.  The door to room 106 was never opened and the last time the victim is seen was walking toward the front entrance in the area where she was brutally murdered by the man.

The Daily Business Review wrote an article about the original verdict on December 5th or 2017: https://www.law.com/dailybusinessreview/sites/dailybusinessreview/2017/12/05/hialeah-motel-slammed-with-12m-verdict-after-womans-murder/

$5.5 Million Settlement – ATM Death Case

Congratulations to our Michael Haggard and Pedro Echarte for obtaining a $5.5 Million settlement in a negligent security wrongful death case.

This case involved a young man who died after being shot in an attempted armed robbery while using an ATM. We brought the lawsuit on behalf of the victim’s estate against the operator of the ATM, alleging that the security measures in place on the night of the incident were inadequate in light of the prior history of crime on the premises and in the surrounding area.

Further details on this case are confidential.