CASE INVOLVING THE MURDER OF US MARINE VETERAN IS SETTLED FOR $1.5 MILLION
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - November 11, 2014 - The Haggard Law Firm recently announced that Attorney Christopher Marlowe has successfully settled for $1.5 million in the wrongful death case against Greystar Management Company for its role in the shooting death of 31 year old United States Marine Veteran David Lawrence Nelson II at the Harbor Town Apartments in Plantation, Florida. The suit, which was filed in Broward County Circuit Court in 2013 by David Nelson’s wife, Marla Nelson, accused one of the largest property management companies in the country of being negligent for Nelson's murder.
"Marla Nelson's husband was an honor to his country and her. David completed overseas tours in combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan," said Christopher Marlowe, a partner with The Haggard Law Firm who represented Marla Nelson.
On July 17, 2012, Nelson was shot to death in the parking lot of the Harbor Town Apartments by Jaime Vogel, who attempted suicide immediately after killing David Nelson and who has since died by suicide in jail. Nelson and his wife, Marla, rented an apartment at the complex and Vogel was living there with his wife and son. David Nelson was simply picking up the mail after work and walking across the parking lot when Mr. Vogel ran after him, shooting him multiple times before his gun finally jammed. Greystar Management and Harbor Town Apartments failed to learn that Jaime Vogel had a long history of threatening behavior at other apartment communities, including other properties managed by Greystar. The Defendants did not utilize background screening tools available to them, which would have alerted them to the risks presented by this assailant.
"David's preventable death resulted from a collision of massive corporate incompetence disguised as streamlined efficiency and profit maximization. His death truly was a senseless byproduct of a company that became too large to do their important job properly. I am pleased we were able to overcome the many significant challenges to the foreseeability, preventability and causation issues that these facts presented," said Marlowe.
Safety concerns related to tenant screening should be the number one priority for anyone in the business of residential rental housing. Greystar's massive size and automated approach to residential housing directly facilitated David Nelson's murder. Through his untimely and tragic death, rental communities should elevate their screening processes to recognize such threats.
About The Haggard Law Firm, P.A.
Founded in 1972, The Haggard Law Firm is a plaintiff's trial firm based in Coral Gables, Florida. It represents the rights of people permanently injured through the fault of others. The firm handles serious injury, death and tort cases in all categories of personal injury claims, including those related to automobile accidents, wrongful death, negligent security, airline disasters, slip-and-fall accidents, boating and diving accidents, admiralty matters, medical and dental malpractice, sports injuries, products liability, insurance coverage issues, premises liability, liquor/bar liability and pool drowning/drain entrapment incidences. As a result of its success, peers and the judiciary consider The Haggard Law Firm as one of the most highly regarded personal injury law firms in the United States. The firm and its partners have gained worldwide recognition for their achievements in challenging complex cases of national and international significance. Most recently and for the fourth consecutive year, The Haggard Law Firm is recognized in the first-tier rankings of 2014's "Best Law Firms," featured in U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. Firms included in the 2014 "Best Law Firms" list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. For additional information, please visit www.haggardlawfirm.com.
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