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Pregnant Woman Runs Over Suspected Purse Thief in Walmart Parking Lot

A pregnant woman was caught on video running down on alleged purse snatcher with her SUV in a Walmart parking lot in North Carolina. Christine Braswell, 26, told local media that she found the man rummaging through her SUV  before he took off running with her purse. The suspect, Robert Raines, who was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, was charged with felony breaking and entering, larceny and misdemeanor damage to property.

Watch Video of Ashville North Carolina Incident: https://youtu.be/v4umzNJIqMk  

Haggard Law Attorney Christopher Marlowe says this incident is another reminder that Walmart is yet to truly commit to addressing its well-reported security issues. “Walmart parking lots remain hot spots for violence and mayhem.  This most recent event caught on camera in Asheville, North Carolina demonstrates how quickly a “nonviolent” crime can become a matter of life or death” says Marlowe, who was quoted in a Bloomberg Businessweek investigation earlier this year on Walmart’s consistent security issues (click to read).

He adds, “When auto burglary, theft and other ‘petty’ crimes are allowed to flourish in the vast concrete expanses that Walmart uses everywhere as its parking lots, more of the same will follow.  Either meaningful security is there to protect customers, or dangerous encounters like this will remain the status quo.”

For her part, Braswell was charged with misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.

Click to read article by Christopher Marlowe and Published in the Daily Business Review on WalMart Security Concerns as Published

 

Haggard, Michaels Named to 2017 Legal Elite List

The Haggard Law Firm’s Michael Haggard and Todd Michaels have been named winners of Florida Trend’s 2017 Legal Elite Recognition. Both attorneys were given the honor in the Civil Trial category. The list of honorees represents fewer than 1.5% of the active Florida Bar members who practice in Florida.

Now in its 14th year, Florida Legal Elite presents a prestigious roster of attorneys chosen for recognition by their peers. The 1,080 lawyers listed here exemplify a standard of excellence in their profession and by so doing, have garnered the respect and esteem of their colleagues.
  
Voting for this year’s Legal Elite attorneys began in October 2016 when Florida Trend invited all in-state members of the Florida Bar to participate. Multiple announcements publicized the ballot deadline and voting guidelines.

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SEMINAR: Closing the Deal in Opening

 

During the Florida Justice Association Convention in St Pete Beach Florida yesterday, The Haggard Law Firm’s Todd Michaels lead a seminar discussing opening statements. His lecture, ‘Closing the Deal in Opening’ was part of FJA’s Advanced Trial Skills program.

To learn about Todd Michaels, Click Here

Michaels’ Seminar on Opening Statements

The Florida Justice Association’s Annual Convention and Expo will begin on June 14. The Haggard Law Firm’s Todd Michaels will be a guest speaker at this year’s Convention in St Pete Beach.

Michaels says ”  It is an honor to speak at the FJA convention.  There is no organization that does more for consumers, citizens, and victims in the State of Florida.  The annual convention is a place to meet with great lawyers from around the state, and more importantly, to learn and share knowledge.”

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Pool Safely Progam safety tips

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start, nationally, to the summer swim season. The Haggard Law Firm is committed to sharing any and all information we can to help keep everyone safe in and around bodies of water.

A new report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows the number of reported fatal child drownings in swimming pools involving children younger than 5—the most vulnerable population—has decreased 17 percent nationwide since 2010. Despite the decrease, fatal and non-fatal child drownings in pools and spas continue to pose a public health challenge across the United States.

Drowning remains the number 1 cause of death among children under the age of 5 in Florida. Parents and caregivers are reminded to follow

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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

 

Pool Fence Removed, 1 & 3 Year Old Drown

A family and entire community remains devastated days after a 1 and 3-year-old drowned in a Cape Coral (FL.) Apartment Complex pool. It was last Sunday night when rescue crews were called to the Aurora Townhouse Condos. The local news media reports that they father of the young children went to the second floor of their two story townhouse to use the restroom. When he returned downstairs he found the two young children floating in the pool.

Adding to the tragedy are reports that the pool’s perimeter fence had been moved earlier in the year and never replaced. A woman who identified herself to the NBC Affiliate covering the story says she had asked the homeowners association to replace the pool fence quickly. But no action was taken by the board. (Watch NBC 2 Report).

The Haggard Law Firm has advocated for improving pool safety measures nationally and has successfully litigated several cases involving missing or broken pool fences including the Loren Hinton case (Click to watch video on Pool Gate Safety and Hinton Case) . Michael Haggard, the Firm’s Managing Partner said of the recent drownings, “this is another tragedy that is heart-wrenching and should have never occurred. Layers of protection such as pool fences are critical in the prevention of child drowning. ”

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Searching For A Killer: Cold Case Help Needed

Earlier today, NBC South Florida visited The Haggard Law Firm to speak with the family members of Danny Fundora who was killed in early 2013. The person or people who took his life have not been caught. We hope the upcoming story by NBC will draw new attention to the murder case.  The Haggard Law Firm represents the Fundora family in a negligent security lawsuit against the supermarket where Danny was killed. The business did not take the security measures needed to stop the horrible incident.

Our Todd Michaels commented on the case and search for Fundora’s killer  today:

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RED CROSS: Swim Safety Tips


May is National Water Safety Month. The Haggard Law Firm is committed to sharing swim safety information to help decrease the number of drownings and near drownings.

This graphic features safety tips from the American Red Cross.

Learn more about Haggard Law Drowning cases by clicking:

Pool Drowning Accidents

Understand Survivors and the Catastrophically Injured

Today’s issue of the Daily Business Review includes a Board of Contributors article authored by The Haggard law Firm‘s Jason Brenner. The article, Understanding Your Client: Survivors and the Catastrophically Injured, discusses the challenges to successfully representing and emotionally supporting during the civil litigation process the tragically injured or loved ones of someone who has died.

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