Staff Writer
Case: Jane Doe v. (Hotel) and (Restaurant)
Jurisdiction: Circuit Court, Florida
Attorneys: Lipcon & Lipcon, P.A.; David W. Lipcon
Settlement Amount: Confidential (names of parties have bee omitted)
Facts and Allegations: Premises Liability/Negligent Security (Filing Date 2013,Settlement 2014)
Lipcon spoke to us, briefly, about the case: "I'd love to comment on the details of the attack and settlement but we are bound by confidentiality clauses not to do so. I will say that the settlement was enough to teach the hotel and restaurant operators a lesson - don't operate your business without being conscious of the safety of your customers and the public. Don't just hire the first person that walks through the door...do your job, investigate the background and character of who you are putting into the public to promote your business. And to the hotels and motels out there....take precautions for the safely of your guests. Everyone needs to stop being careless."
Settlement Amount: Confidential (names of parties have bee omitted)
Facts and Allegations: Premises Liability/Negligent Security (Filing Date 2013,Settlement 2014)
Jane Doe, was visiting Florida on business (the name of the Plaintiff and the location of the incident is being kept private due to privacy concerns for the victim). The victim, a single mother, was staying at a local hotel in a Florida beach town. Upon arrival, while walking towards the room, she was approached by a man who was working for a local restaurant, handing out menus and coupons. The man was hired by the local restaurant to solicit customers on the street and on hotel properties. There was a brief conversation between the two, when she accepted one of the menus/coupons. A few hours later, the man returned to her room, climbing up to the second story balcony, breaking into her room and attacking her. After a long struggle, the victim was able to break free of the assailant and run to safety. The victim, hired the law offices of Lipcon & Lipcon, PA. David W. Lipcon, a Miami lawyer, well experienced in premises liability/negligent security cases, such as these, launched an investigation into the incident. He discovered that the assailant, hired by the restaurant, had a long and extensive criminal history including other incidences of aggravated battery and breaking and entering. Further investigation revealed that the hotel, where the victim was staying, had left a ladder where anybody from the street could gain easy access to the second story balconies.
A confidential settlement was first achieved against the hotel. Suit was later brought against the restaurant for, amongst other things, negligent hiring, retention and supervision of the employee. It was alleged by Lipcon that the restaurant failed to provide a proper background check, or in the alternative, completely ignored looking into the background of this violent offender.
After contentious litigation, a settlement was eventually reached with the restaurant, as well, just prior to trial. That settlement, pursuant to an agreement between the parties, must remain confidential.
