$15,000,000 Settlement Awarded to Injured Student

Settlement Amount: $15 million

Participating Attorneys: James A. Roberts, III and Matthew D. Quinn

Lewis & Roberts recently represented a student who was injured at his apartment complex. Upon returning home, the Plaintiff was attacked, suffering multiple gunshot wounds while being run over by the perpetrator’s vehicle.

The Plaintiff was 20 years old at the time of the incident and was a resident of an apartment complex which specialized in student housing. The plaintiff moved into the apartment complex because he was in the process of transitioning to a four-year program. In the afternoon, he was returning home when he was attacked by three armed men. He was shot multiple times and run over as he lay injured in the roadway. The attack occurred in a common area of the apartment complex.

Discovery revealed that there was a pattern of serious criminal activity at the apartment complex, including home invasions, shootings, drugs, and vandalism. The Defendants were aware of the ongoing and serious criminal activity. Plaintiff was able to prove that despite their knowledge of the serious criminal activity at the apartment complex, the Defendants reduced the amount of security being provided for “budgetary reasons.” The attack was caught on surveillance video.

Plaintiff argued that despite Defendants’ knowledge of the substantial and ongoing and violent criminal activity, Defendants failed to implement reasonable security measures for the safety of its residents. Plaintiff further argued that it was reasonably foreseeable that unless reasonable security measures were implemented, such as Plaintiff, would be killed or seriously injured by the criminal conduct of third parties.

The Plaintiff was required to undergo multiple surgeries and remained in the hospital for approximately six weeks. Following physical therapy, Plaintiff suffered no paralysis and was able to make a remarkable recovery. There were numerous scars on Plaintiff’s body and Plaintiff continues to suffer from PTSD.

As a result of our firm’s dedication and tenacity, the Defendants’ negligence in this case was exposed, leading to a sizeable recovery for our client.