Florida Injury Attorney Blog

In Florida, the husband of a woman who was kidnapped from her North Port residence and murdered says he plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Charlotte County and the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. He is accusing them of “severe incompetence” over the handling of a 911 call about her abduction.

Denise Amber Lee disappeared from her house in January. Her husband, Nathaniel Lee, returned home in the afternoon and found their two children, ages 2 and 8 months, alone. Denise’s naked body was discovered in a shallow grave two days later. Michael King was arrested and charged with her murder. He has pled not guilty.

Nathaniel says that a Port Charles woman heard Denise screaming and banging on King’s Camaro after he had raped her. The woman called 911, reporting that she had heard crying and “not happy screaming.”

Two 911 dispatchers failed to send police to the intersection where the woman said that she saw Denise. She is believed to have been killed several hours after the 911 call was placed.

Just 90 minutes before her call, police had issued a “be on the lookout” for Lee and his Camaro. A Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is located less than half a mile from where Denise’s body was found.

An internal affairs investigation found that Denise also called 911. Transcripts record her saying “I'm sorry I just want to see my family, please let me go,” before the call was disconnected.

Police officers, lawyers, doctors, investment brokers, and other professionals are required to provide a certain level of professional care when doing their jobs. When failure to perform at that required standard results in serious injuries or deaths in Florida, the negligent or careless party may be held liable under Florida’s Wrongful Death statute.

Our South Florida personal injury law firm is committed to protecting you. We Represent the People, Not the Powerful. Contact one of our Florida wrongful death lawyers to discuss your case.

Denise Lee's husband files intent to sue sheriff's office, ABC7.com, April 10, 2008

Charlotte should settle Lee lawsuit, Heraldtribune.com, April 13, 2008

Nathan Lee: dispatcher showed "severe incompetence", Tampa Bay 10.com, April 10, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Charlotte County Sheriff's Office

Continue reading " Florida Husband To File Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office For Handling of 911 Call " »

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Posted In: Wrongful Death

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The husband of Randi Gorenberg, the 52-year-old Boca Raton resident who was abducted and shot in the head before her body was dumped behind a South Florida civic center, is suing Town Center at Boca Raton Mall and its owner, Simon Property Group, for their alleged inadequate security-related premises liability negligence that led to her kidnapping and wrongful death.

Randi’s body was found an hour after credit card receipts document purchases that she had made will shopping at the mall. Her husband, Stewart, is seeking unspecified damages. This is the third Florida personal injury lawsuit recently filed that names the mall and its owners as defendants over inadequate security-related injuries and deaths.

Police in Florida have never said that Randi was kidnapped, but Stewart’s Florida personal injury lawyers said they believe that they can prove that she was abducted from the mall premises. Simon Property Group calls the allegations “self-serving and ridiculous.”

Palm Beach County police are investigating whether there Is a connection between Randi’s murder and the murders of 47-year-old Nancy Bochicchio and 7-year old Joey Bochicchio-Hauser, a mother and daughter that were kidnapped while leaving the mall, forced to take money from an ATM, and then bound and shot in the heads Their bodies were discovered in their SUV at the mall’s parking. Bochicchio’s family sued the mall and Simon Property Group for Nancy and Joey’s wrongful deaths.

In August, a mother and her two-year-old son were kidnapped and also forced to withdraw money from an ATM. The woman was able to free herself and her son after their attacker left them tied up. She is suing the mall for injuries related to alleged negligence and inadequate security that allowed the crime to happen.

In January, Boca Raton Council members accused Simon Property Group and the mall for not remedying inadequate security issues after the Bochicchio slayings. Boca Raton police and mall patrons have also complained to the mall about its poor security measures.

If someone you love has died because of the negligence of a property owner or anyone else, our South Florida wrongful death law firm can help you determine whether you have grounds for a civil case. You may be entitled to wrongful death compensation for your losses.

Lawsuit filed against Town Center mall owners over 2007 murder, Sun-Sentinel.com, April 23, 2008

Boca mall faces lawsuit in murders of mother, Sun-Sentinel.com, January 9, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Town Center at Boca Raton

Simon Property Group

Continue reading " Town Center at Boca Raton Mall Sued For Premises Liability that Allegedly Lead to Wrongful Death of Customer " »

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Posted In: Premises Liability , Wrongful Death

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A Florida judge has approved the birth defects personal injury settlement between tomato grower Ag-Mart and the family of 3-year-old Carlitos Candelario, a boy who was born without legs or arms. Under the terms of the agreement, Ag-Mart will cover all of Carlitos’s medical costs and provide financial support for life. His medical expenses are expected to run in the millions of dollars.

Carlitos’s parents, Francisca Herrera and Abraham Candelario, worked as tomato pickers for Ag-Mart in fields that were sprayed with pesticides. They filed a birth defects lawsuit against Ag-Mart in 2006, claiming that the pesticides that Herrera had been exposed to during her pregnancy caused his birth defects.

Their personal injury lawsuit claims that at least three of the pesticides sprayed over the fields had caused deformities in lab animals when used on them in high doses. Florida and North Carolina health officials, however, found no connection between the pesticides and the birth defects.

Carlitos is one of three babies with birth defects, born in 2005, whose parents picked tomatoes for Ag-Mart and lived in Immokalee.

An expert testified that Francisca had been heavily exposed to pesticides during the first trimester of her pregnancy. In her deposition, Francisca said that the company forced her to work in fields that were freshly sprayed with pesticide and that pesticides on nearby fields also affected her. Other employees have supported her claims.

Ag-Mart has voluntarily agreed to stop using five products linked to developmental problems in lab animals.

The Shriner's Children's Hospital in Tampa and Miami Children's Hospital have agreed to take care of Carlitos until he turns 18. Doctors are hoping to fit him with prosthetics one day. He continues to use a wheelchair.

The settlement amount is confidential. Ag-Mart continues to maintain that pesticides did not cause Carlitos’s defects.

Our Florida personal injury law firm represents children and their families that have been seriously injured because of the negligence or recklessness of others.

Ag-Mart to pay for limbless child's needs, Palm Beach Post, April 17, 2008

Farmworker Family's Ag-Mart Settlement Amount 'Significant, MSNBC.com, April 16, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Pesticides the Root Cause of Birth Defects in Farmworkers, Palm Beach Post/Organic Consumers Association, March 13, 2005

Pesticides and Pregnancy

Continue reading " Florida-Based Tomato Grower Ag-Mart Settles Birth Defects Lawsuit With Lifetime Financial Support for 3-Year-Old Boy Born Without Limbs " »

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Posted In: Injuries to Minors , Personal Injury

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The family of Kenneth "Roger" Gadd has filed a Florida wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Lakeland, Florida. Gadd was killed on July 17, 2006 when the car that he was riding in was struck by a truck being driven by a theft suspect that Lakeland police were chasing.

The suspect, Tonya English, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for DUI manslaughter. Police discovered that there was alcohol and drugs in her system when the car accident happened.

Gadd’s son, his mother Dorothy Holm, and his sister Deborah McGlothen are also suing English and Erik Pearson, the owner of the car that English was driving. Pearson had picked up English, a hitchhiker, and left her in the car with the engine running while he ran into a store. English took off with his car and Pearson called 911.

Police chased English, even deploying stop sticks. The police pursuit was moving as fast as up to 70mph. During the chase on State Road 33, English moved into the opposite late and hit Gadd’s Toyota Camry. He died instantly.

Lakeland police say the pursuit was justified and that they acted within police pursuit policy. Gadd’s family says that they hope the lawsuit will lead to a stricter police pursuit policy.

The family is suing Pearson because they believe that he never took responsibility for leaving a stranger in his car with the engine on, which resulted in the deadly car chase and collision.

Our South Florida wrongful death law firm has helped many families recover compensation for the accidental deaths of their loved ones. In Florida, survivors of a decedent that can claim wrongful death include the deceased’s children, spouse, parents, and other that may have relied on the victim for support. One of our Florida wrongful death lawyers in Hollywood, Naples, or Miami would be happy to speak with you during a free consultation.

Financial recovery for wrongful death may include medical expenses, funeral/cremation/burial costs, loss of earnings, pain and suffering, loss of financial support, loss of emotional support, and other damages.

Family of Police Chase Victim Files a Lawsuit, The Ledger.com, April 3, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Woman Charged In Police Chase That Killed Innocent Motorist, TBOBlogs.com, September 26, 2006

Statutes, The Florida Senate

Continue reading " Family Sues City of Lakeland, Florida For Man's Wrongful Death During Police Car Chase " »

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Posted In: Car Accidents , Wrongful Death

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