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, Policy Limit Settlement in Near Drowning Case

The Haggard Law Firm’s Michael Haggard and Kimberly Wald have secured a $1 Million pre-suit, policy limit settlement in a near-drowning entrapment case.

On September 3, 2021, five-year-old Bo Madden was with her family friend’s home in Destin, Florida where they went swimming in the pool at the house.  While in the pool, Bo’s hair was entangled on the entrapment cover and she was sucked underwater. Bo was unable to untangle her hair and was trapped, drowning, and dying. 

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$11.95 Million Settlement in a Drowning/Wrongful Death Case

The Haggard Law Firm’s Michael Haggard and Adam Finkel, along with co-counsel Julie Hager, have obtained a nearly $12 Million settlement in a drowning case involving a child who made his way through a broken pool gate and into a community pool.

During the morning of August 24, 2019, Mohamed Salim, a resident of the Arbor Keys Condominiums in Tamarac, Florida, dropped off his minivan with a neighbor, so that it could be washed. Later that afternoon, Mohammed, along with his four and six-year-old sons, walked across the parking lot to check on the status of the van. As the van was not ready, Mohamed sent his sons to the nearby playground, while he waited for his van to be finished. At least 13 minutes later, Mohamed heard screams, as it had turned out that his boys left the playground and made entered the community pool. They did this without Mohamed’s knowledge, and while he was monitoring his van.

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$4.5 Million Settlement in Pool Drowning Case

The Haggard Law Firm’s Adam Finkel and Michael Haggard have reached a confidential settlement for $4.5 Million in a pool drowning case. The victim, a young woman, entered a commercial pool of an Apartment Complex and drowned while swimming from the shallow end of the pool to the deep end. The plaintiff’s allegations consisted of code violations regarding the safety line, depth markers, slope of the bottom of the pool, and absence of certain lifesaving equipment. Jane Doe’s wrongful death claim settled for $4.5 million with the owner of the pool.

Attorney Adam Finkel Photo
Trial lawyer Adam Finkel
Managing Partner Michael Haggard

The Haggard Law Firm has developed a national and international niche representing people injured or killed as a result of dangerous swimming pool drains and negligent supervision and maintenance of pool safety barriers. Law firms from around the country connect with our experienced litigators at The Haggard Law Firm when looking to refer the most difficult drowning and non-fatal drowning cases.

Representing victims of drowning accidents in pools and in swim parks is a significant concern across the country. Successful outcomes for the families we represent can go a long way toward protecting children and families in the future, both in the United States and abroad.

Pool Drowning Case Settles for $1M

$1 Million Settlement in Case Involving Grandfather Who Drowned During Grandson’s Birthday party

Ocala, Fla – BG Ocala Ranch has agreed to pay $1 Million to the family of an Ocala man who drowned during his 5-year-old grandson’s birthday party.

The family of the 66-year-old victim says the death of their family patriarch was entirely preventable. Children were terrified as adult partygoers performed CPR to the grandfather after he was found floating in the luxury event space home’s resort-style pool.

An investigation conducted by the family’s legal team revealed that the BG Ocala Ranch never should have been offering to customers the property as an event space. The Haggard Law Firm’s Jason Brenner and attorney L. Edward McClellan of McClellan & Batsel, discovered:

  • the property was an unlicensed commercial operation conducting business on residential property. That including soliciting rentals for use of its water park
  • the two “lifeguards” the part organizer, the victim’s daughter, paid BG Ranch for were not lifeguards, they were the husband and daughter of the property’s representatives
  • the pool known as the “water park” was not up to code with problems that included no signage for diving, depth, safety makers, or ladders as required by Florida law. The pool’s water clarity was poor and should not have been open for use by anyone.
Haggard Law Firm trial lawyer Jason Brenner

Brenner says “the family hopes the settlement will result in businesses who operate public swimming pools to verify they are in compliance with all applicable building and safety codes. They also hope it stands as a warning to the public to make sure a swimming area has all safety measures in place before using it. The family doesn’t want another family to have to endure the lifelong loss they will suffer.”

For decades, The Haggard Law Firm has been fighting for justice on behalf of families who have lost a loved one to a drowning and victims of near drownings. Haggard Law has successfully advocated for improvements to standard pool equipment. Click to learn more

Swim Safety Tips

May is National Swim Safety Month. Our team at Haggard Law is passionate about observing this time as we have unfortunately had to represent families who have suffered the loss or a significant injury to a loved one in a drowning or near drowning. With these tragic experiences, we have learned that water safety involves active participation of family, friends, the swimmers and the people who are responsible for pools, pool equipment, and properties that have other bodies of water such as ponds and lakes.

 

According to the Florida Department of Health, Florida leads the country in drowning deaths of children ages 1-4 years. Annually in Florida, enough children to fill three to four preschool classrooms drown before their fifth birthday.

 

According to the U.S Swimming Foundation, in 2017 Florida lost more children to drowning than any other state. There were 51 fatal child drownings in Florida pools or spas in 2017, a 20 percent spike compared to 2016.  The drownings last year involved children 15 and younger, with 80 percent involving children under the age of 5. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1-4 nationwide.

Th American Red Cross has these swim safety tips:

  • Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
  • Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.
  • Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
  • Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
  • Maintain constant supervision.
  • Make sure everyone in your family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and learn-to-swim courses.
  • If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers. Many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.
  • Avoid distractions when supervising children around water.
  • If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
  • Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
  • Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
  • Enroll in Red Cross home pool safety, water safety, first aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.
  • Protect your skin. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and wear sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15.
  • Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.

Also parents remember your pool gate safety and pool pump safety.

 

 

Haggard to Lead Seminar During Aquatic Law Symposium

Our Michael Haggard will be one of the featured presenters during the upcoming 2018 National Drowning Prevention Alliance Educational Conference’s Aquatic Law Symposium.  The objective of the symposium is to provide plaintiff and defense attorneys with information about principles and practices of aquatic law. The event will be held April 2nd to the 7th at the Marriott Waterside in Tampa. Haggard’s seminar “Developing Theories of Negligence Citing Important Litigation Cases by Firm” is scheduled for the morning session which begins at 8:50am on Saturday, April 7th.

The legal symposiums are certified by the Florida Bar and in every state via reciprocity agreement for CLE credits (8 Credits Available)

Michael Haggard’s Aquatic Law Experience

Michael Haggard and The Haggard Law Firm has a long history of successfully litigating cases involving drownings and near-drownings…

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REPORT: 163 Children Drowned in the U.S. This Summer

According to media reports compiled by the USA Swimming Foundation, from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2017* at least 163 children younger than age 15 fatally drowned in swimming pools or spas. Of the 163 reports, 112 of the victims — nearly 70 percent — were children younger than age five. Florida led the nation in drowning deaths during this time period with 25. California was second with 16.

“Every year we see the same tragic statistics regarding pool drownings involving our children.  Florida, as well as other warm weathered states, has too many of these horrible incidents” says Haggard Law Firm’s Douglas McCarron.  The Haggard Law Firm has represented several families who have either lost or had a child who suffered life-altering injuries due to a drowning or near drowning. (Learn more about drowning/near-drowning cases, click here)

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Pool Pump/Drain Safety – Drowning Cases

The Haggard Law Firm has extensive experience litigating drowning and near drowning cases. This video discusses the dangers of Pool Pump Drains and our commitment to making pools more safe by turning tragedy into a new federal law to protect swimmers. But there is still more to do. This story features important tips on what to look for when it comes to safety and pool pumps and drains.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHAEL HAGGARD

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO ON POOL GATE SAFETY

 

Michael Haggard Featured Expert in Pool Gate/Toddler Drowning Tragedy Story

Michael Haggard, the Managing Partner of The Haggard Law Firm, was the featured expert in a recent story aired by WINK-TV (CBS station) which covers southwestern Florida. The story was a follow-up to the tragic drowning of a 1 and 3-year-old in an apartment complex pool that had no pool safety gate.

 

 

Haggard is on the National Drowning Prevention Board and has worked with former Secretary of State James Baker on VIRGINIA GRAEME BAKER POOL AND SPA SAFETY ACT which was a law passed in the United States Congress (in 2008) to set new pool pump safety standards. 

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