The Legal Chronicle
Luther Ward Jr., Dontae Diaz Fatally Injured in Palatka, FL Shooting. (Stock Photo: MurrayLegal.com)
Could the shooting at a Palatka supper club have been prevented and are justice and compensation available to the victim’s families and injured victims? Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available.
LOCAL NEWS
Gunfire rang out at a Palatka supper club Saturday night, September 3, 2022, leaving two men dead and three other people injured.
As reported by WCJB.com, “[o]n Saturday night around 11:45 the Palatka Police Department responded to a shooting at [a supper club] due to reports of multiple people being shot.”
NappaValleyRegister.com is reporting, “[i]nvestigators say the shooting happened when an argument broke out among a large group gathered outside the supper club.”
According to the report, “[f]our people were shot and one person was struck with a blunt object…[t]wo people died of gunshot wounds and three other people were hospitalized.”
PalatkaDailyNews.com reported that “[a]n official with knowledge of the decedents confirmed the two Palatka men who died were 26-year-old Luther Ward Jr. and 32-year-old Dontae Diaz.”
The investigation is ongoing.
JUSTICE AVAILABLE? OUR LEGAL TAKE
FORMER CLIENT: I had lawyers calling me, and friends telling me who I should hire…I trusted in The Murray Law Firm and I’m glad I did.
Supper club patrons have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises they are visiting. The level of security provided at the property is of significance, and is a relevant consideration when analyzing whether this shooting may have been prevented. The following questions are also important in assessing whether this incident may have been avoided:
- Have prior incidents of violence been reported on or near the property?
- Was the property owner or manager aware of any suspicious activity prior to the shooting?
- Were any security personnel at the property?
- Have there been prior incidents of violence on the property?
- Were security measures added after any prior incidents?
- What protocol was in place to deter crime and protect the victims at the time of the shooting?
- Was the property owner or manager aware of any suspicious persons or suspicious activity on the property prior to the shooting?
- Have authorities been to the property on prior occasions?
- Does the property owner or management have a protocol to check guests for deadly weapons prior to entering the establishment?
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 property owner or management lacked adequate security to protect its visitors, the families of Luther Ward Jr. and Dontae Diaz may seek justice and elect to pursue legal claims and substantial compensation for their loss. in addition, any injured victims may seek justice and elect to pursue legal claims and substantial compensation for their injuries.
The Murray Law Firm has extensive and successful experience in handling security 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 case are well understood by the legal team at The Murray Law Firm, and it is imperative that the families of Luther Ward Jr. and Dontae Diaz and any injured victims retain a capable law firm who will work without delay to protect their interests.
OUR RESULTS? OVER $125 MILLION IN VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS FOR OUR CLIENTS
The Murray Law Firm has a long history of representing victims of violence and security negligence. We have obtained over $125 Million in verdicts and settlements for our Clients, including:
- A $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property.
- Settlement in excess of $10 million dollars for a victim of gun violence at an apartment complex.
- Settlement in excess of $10 million dollars for a family who lost a loved one to gun violence at a commercial property.
We offer our legal assistance, if desired. We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888-842-1616. Consultations are free and confidential.
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