Young Man’s Body Found Floating in Pond at Jacksonville Apartment Complex. (News4Jax.com)
Could this tragic death have been prevented and are justice and compensation available to the family?
Jacksonville News
Police were investigating a reported drowning at a Jacksonville, Florida apartment complex Tuesday evening, June 11, 2019. According to News4Jax.com, “The body of a young man was found…floating in a retention pond at the Coopers Hawk apartment complex on Old St. Augustine Road.” FirstCoastNews.com is reporting, “a resident of the apartment complex called 911 around 7:30 p.m. when they found the body. Fire rescue pronounced the man dead on the scene.” The victim has not been identified, but the man is believed to be between the ages of 15 and 20, according to the media reports.
The cause of death is still under investigation.
Our Legal Take
Residents and guests of apartment complexes have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises. The level of security provided at the apartment complex is of significance, and is a relevant consideration when analyzing whether this incident may have been prevented. The following questions are also important in assessing whether this incident may have been avoided:
- Have there been prior incidents involving the retention pond?
- What security measures, such as fencing, warning signs, written warning notifications and security patrols, were in place to deter entry to the retention pond and protect the victim and others at the time of the drowning?
- Was the apartment complex owner or management aware of any activity within the retention pond prior to the incident?
Property owners are generally required to protect against foreseeable harm to anyone and everyone legally on the premises. Should the investigation into this incident reveal facts that establish that the apartment complex owner or management lacked adequate security and safety procedures to protect its residents and visitors, the victim’s family may seek justice and elect to pursue legal claims and substantial compensation for their loss.
The Murray Law Firm has extensive and successful experience in handling security and safety negligence claims on behalf of victims and their families, and suggests that an immediate, unbiased inspection of the property will need to be performed so as to limit evidence from being altered, damaged or destroyed. The complexities of pursuing a negligent security and safety case are well understood by the legal team at The Murray Law Firm, and it is imperative that the victim’s family retain a capable law firm who will work without delay to protect their interests.
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The Murray Law Firm has a long history of representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have obtained over $100 Million in verdicts and settlements for our Clients, including a $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property. We offer our legal assistance, if desired.
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DISCLAIMERS: The information contained in this post is from secondary sources and may therefore contain inaccuracies. We will gladly correct or remove this post upon request. The material contained in this post is not intended to constitute legal advice. As each Client is unique, please contact us for a free consultation on your particular case. “Contingent attorneys’ fees” refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.