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$1 Million Pre-Suit Settlement in Gas Station Murder Case

The Haggard Law Firm’s Michael Haggard and Adam Finkel have obtained a $1 Million pre-suit settlement in a negligent security wrongful death case against a gas station operator.

On July 15, 2020, just before midnight 20-year-old Zion Lamar was shot and killed at a Solo gas station in Pompano Beach. Zion lived nearby with his girlfriend and was sent to purchase snacks but never returned home.

Precisely what transpired is unknown as the owner of the gas station did not install functioning surveillance cameras, nor did the clerk respond to audible commotion occurring on the property. Although there is a cell phone video of Zion writhing on the ground, he died shortly thereafter and there is no known eyewitness testimony. It is believed that an altercation occurred outside involving several people, during which Zion was shot.

This settlement was reached after The Haggard Law Firm presented its position regarding the clear liability in this case and the damages associated with the death of a young man. While the defense could not contest the staggering history of daily drug dealing, public intoxication, and violence at the gas station, the defense contested the Plaintiff’s description of the damages in the case.

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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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$1 Million Policy Settlement for Robbery Victim Shot 3 Times

The Haggard Law Firm’s Todd Michaels and attorney Michael Lewenz of Zebersky Payne have obtained a $1 Million policy limits settlement in a negligent security case where the victim was shot three times.

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On July 22, 2018 Dennis Barker entered the Fiesta Food Market in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to make a purchase. After exiting the market, while still on the defendants’ property, Mr. Barker was confronted by an assailant who robbed him at gunpoint. During the confrontation the assailant shot Mr. Barker three times.

The gunshots caused major injury, primarily to Mr. Barker‘s left leg. As a result of his injury Mr. Barker had no recollection of the incident.

An investigation showed that the convenience store had a four-year criminal history including six narcotic incidents, four robberies, and two aggravated assaults. The property had no reasonable security features and had been in violation of the Convenience Business Security Act, a Florida Statute which sets minimum security standards for convenience businesses.

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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/

$12 Million Negligent Security Wrongful Death Verdict,Press Conf. Today

MEDIA CONFERENCE MONDAY 1:30PM- Security Video Provided

Local Family of Woman Beaten to Death During Sexual Assault Say Hotel Could Have Prevented Her Murder.

 Machado pleading for help from hotel staff of Yaimi Guevara Machado with father of Yaimi Guevara Machado

 

A Miami-Dade County Jury Agreed, Just Ordered Hotel to Pay Parents $12 Million.

 Hialeah, FL – Late Friday a Miami Dade County jury awarded the parents of Yaimi Guevara Machado $12 million following a five day trial that originated from a wrongful death negligent security lawsuit filed against the Chesapeake Motel.

On April 10, 2016, the 30-year-old Machado was locked out of her hotel room only wearing a bra and jeans when she asked the staff of the Hialeah motel for help (video/audio available). They refused. Moments later, police say, she was beaten to death by Ronald Lopez Andrade who has been charged with first degree murder.

Machado’s family filed the lawsuit against the owners of the Chesapeake Motel because they believe its staff had several opportunities to prevent the tragedy. Along with not assisting Machado when she approached them, the hotel’s staff:

  • Allowed Andrade, who was not a hotel guest,  to linger on the property
  • sold Andrade alcohol (video/audio available)
  • fielded a request from the inebriated Andrade for help to find a prostitute (video/audio available)
  • did not kick Andrade off property when he sought sexual favors from a housekeeper

Machado’s parents, Julia Machado and Rafael Guevara, hope their successful lawsuit sends a message to budget motels to follow the best practices in the lodging industry to provide the security that will help prevent tragedies like these from destroying another family.

The Haggard Law Firm’s Christopher Marlowe and Jason Brenner were joined by co-counsel, Alexis Izquierdo , in litigating this case.

Over the last decade The Haggard law Firm has handled hundreds of premises liability / negligent security cases, delivering more than $300 million in verdicts and settlement in that time.

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