Georgia Verdicts
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Amount:
$20,000,000
Type:
Verdict-Plaintiff
State:
Georgia
Venue:
Clayton County
Court:
Clayton County, State Court
Injury Type(s):
other-death; other-gunshot wound
Case Type:
Wrongful Death; Premises Liability – Inadequate or Negligent Security
Case Name:
Roger Kirschenbaum, as Administrator of the Estate of Florencio Gomez-Mendez, Deceased, Pascuala Perez-Hernandez, Individually and as Next Friend and Guardian of Maria Magdalena Gomez-Perez, Ermenegildo Gomez-Perez and Antonio Gomez-Perez, Minors v. JAMCO Properties, Inc. and Clayton Carriage Apartments, LLC,
No. 2105CV00848E
Date:
September 9, 2016
Plaintiff(s):
Antonio Gomez-Perez (Male),
Ermenegildo Gomez-Perez ,
Pascuala Perez-Hernandez (Female),
Maria Magdalena Gomez-Perez (Female),
Estate of Florencio Gomez-Mendez (Male, 31 Years)
Plaintiff Attorney(s):
Jeff Shiver;
Shiver Hamilton;
Atlanta,
GA,
for
Antonio Gomez-Perez, Ermenegildo Gomez-Perez, Pascuala Perez-Hernandez, Maria Magdalena Gomez-Perez, Estate of Florencio Gomez-Mendez ■ Darren Summerville;
The Summerville Firm, LLC;
Atlanta,
GA,
for
Antonio Gomez-Perez, Ermenegildo Gomez-Perez, Pascuala Perez-Hernandez, Maria Magdalena Gomez-Perez, Estate of Florencio Gomez-Mendez
Defendant(s):
JAMCO Properties Inc.,
Clayton Carriage Apartments LLC
Defense Attorney(s):
Earl W. (Billy) Gunn;
Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial, LLC;
Atlanta,
GA,
for
JAMCO Properties Inc., Clayton Carriage Apartments LLC ■ David I. Matthews;
Weinberg, Wheeler, Hudgins, Gunn & Dial, LLC;
Atlanta,
GA,
for
JAMCO Properties Inc., Clayton Carriage Apartments LLC
On Jan. 24, 2015, plaintiffs’ decedent Florencio Gomez-Mendez, 31, was shot repeatedly by unknown assailants while within the common area of the Bradford Ridge Apartments housing complex in Forest Park. Gomez-Mendez was declared dead at the scene. Gomez-Mendez’s estate sued Bradford Ridge Apartments owner JAMCO Properties, Inc. and subsidiary property management entity Clayton Carriage Apartments, LLC, alleging inadequate security enabled the decedent’s wrongful death. The estate alleged that the defendants did not provide enough security on the premises given the history of violent crime at the apartment complex and at a neighboring building. The estate argued that the “courtesy officers” (police officers who provide twice daily patrols of the property in exchange for free or reduced rent) were not sufficient to prevent violent crime and that the complex required an upgraded security presence. The defendants denied liability, arguing that they were not responsible for the actions of Gomez-Mendez’s assailants. They maintained that security had been adequate at the apartment complex. During cross-examination at trial, JAMCO’s vice president in charge of security was questioned with regard to approximately 80 incidents of violent crime that occurred at or near the apartment complex over a period of four years. The vice president reportedly testified that the amount of crime in the area was “overwhelming.”
Gomez-Mendez suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. He attempted to return to his home, but was found several feet from the site of the attack. Gomez-Mendez’s wife and minor children sought wrongful death damages on behalf of the decedent. Counsel for Gomez-Mendez’s estate did not rely on expert testimony. The defendants did not offer specific arguments as to damages.
The jury apportioned 50-percent liability to the defendants and 50-percent liability to the unknown assailants. Gomez-Mendez’s family was awarded $18 million in wrongful death damages, as well as $2 million in damages for conscious pain and suffering. Due to the apportionment of liability, the defendants were only responsible for $10 million.
Actual Award:
$10,000,000
Judge:
Tammi Hayward
Trial Length:
8
days
Trial Deliberations:
2
hours
Jury Vote:
unanimous
Jury Composition:
12 female
Post Trial:
Defense counsel’s motions for a new trial and reimbursement of fees related to a rejected offer of judgment were pending at the time of publication.
This report is based on information that was provided by plaintiffs’ counsel. Defense counsel declined to contribute to the report.