$2.5 Million Policy Limits Recovery in Fatal Jet Ski Collision Case

The Haggard Law Firm’s Pedro Echarte, along with co-counsel Joey Rafaeli, has secured a $2.5 Million policy limits settlement in a fatal boating collision case.

The plaintiff’s decedent had rented a jet ski with friends and was traveling eastbound across the bay during the early morning hours. At the same time, a recreational vessel was traveling southbound.

The boat collided with the jet ski, causing catastrophic injuries that resulted in the jet ski operator’s death.

Per terms of the settlement, the names of the parties involved are confidential.

Boating accidents and jet ski collisions can turn a day on the water into a devastating tragedy in seconds. At The Haggard Law Firm, our attorneys represent families in complex maritime and wrongful death cases, holding negligent vessel operators accountable and pursuing maximum financial recovery.

Failure to Maintain Proper Lookout and Yield Right-of-Way

The case centered on violations of well-established navigational safety rules under maritime law.

Vessel operators are legally required to:

• Maintain a proper lookout at all times
• Operate at a safe speed given surrounding conditions
• Follow Inland Navigational Rules governing crossing situations
• Yield when another vessel has the right-of-way

Evidence demonstrated that the boat owner failed to maintain a proper lookout and failed to yield to the jet ski, which had the right-of-way under applicable navigation rules.

These rules exist to prevent precisely this type of fatal collision.

Federal Limitation of Liability Action

In addition to disputing liability, the defense filed a Limitation of Liability action in federal court — a strategic maritime defense mechanism that seeks to cap a vessel owner’s financial responsibility to the post-incident value of the vessel.

Limitation proceedings can significantly impact wrongful death claims and require experienced maritime litigation counsel.

Pedro Echarte and The Haggard Law Firm team successfully handled both the wrongful death action and the federal limitation case simultaneously, protecting the Estate’s right to full recovery.

$2.5 Million Settlement During Litigation

During the pendency of litigation, the case resolved for the full available insurance policy limits of $2.5 Million.

While no financial recovery can compensate for the loss of life, securing full policy limits provides accountability and meaningful financial protection for surviving family members.

ANOTHER MARITIME CASE: $4,450,000 Global Settlement in Wrongful Death Dive Case

 In a separate maritime wrongful death matter, The Haggard Law Firm and Pedro Echarte secured a total confidential settlement of $4,450,000.00.

The wrongful death dive case involved multiple defendants and settled globally. The resolution ensured accountability and meaningful financial recovery for the surviving family.

Experienced Maritime and Florida Boating Accident Attorneys

Boating accident cases often involve:

• Complex maritime and admiralty law
• Federal court proceedings
• Right-of-way disputes
• Insurance coverage litigation
• Multi-forum strategy
• Haggard Law Firm has extensive experience representing families in:
• Fatal boating accidents
• Jet ski collision cases
• Maritime wrongful death claims
• Limitation of Liability actions
• Negligent vessel operation cases

If you or a loved one has been affected by a boating accident, it is critical to speak with an experienced maritime attorney who understands both state wrongful death law and federal admiralty procedure.

Contact Haggard Law Firm today to discuss your case and your rights.

The Haggard Law Firm Secures Major Result in Catastrophic Injury Case

The Haggard Law Firm, led by crime victim attorneys Kimberly Wald and Michael Haggard, along with co-counsel Michael Woodard of Morgan & Morgan, have obtained a $31 Million settlement in a negligent security case arising from a shooting at an apartment complex in DeKalb County, Georgia.

The case involved the catastrophic injury of a 3-year-old child who was shot during a violent incident at the Arborside Apartment Complex, highlighting the deadly consequences of inadequate security measures at residential properties.

Shooting at Arborside Apartments Exposes Security Failures

The incident occurred while the child “HF”, was standing in the parking lot with her mother outside her grandmother’s apartment. During that time, unknown assailants gained access to the property and opened fire, turning what should have been a safe residential environment into a scene of violence.

This young child was caught in the crossfire and struck by gunfire, suffering catastrophic injuries that forever changed her life.

The lawsuit detailed that the property owner, and management company, failed to implement and maintain reasonable security measures—despite the foreseeable risk of violent crime at the property.

Catastrophic Injuries, a Lifetime of Struggle

As a result of the shooting, HF was initially paralyzed, facing a long and uncertain road to recovery. Through extraordinary medical care and rehabilitation, she has since made a tremendous recovery, regaining limited function and mobility.

Holding Property Owners Accountable for Negligent Security

This $31 Million resolution sends a powerful message to apartment owners and property managers:

• Failing to protect residents and guests from foreseeable criminal activity can result in devastating consequences—and significant legal liability.
• Negligent security cases often arise when property owners ignore known dangers, fail to provide adequate lighting, access control, security patrols, or other basic safety measures that could prevent violent crime.

The Haggard Law Firm has decades of experience litigating negligent security, premises liability, and catastrophic injury cases, standing with victims and families whose lives have been shattered by preventable violence.

Advocating for Victims of Violent Crime

“This case is about accountability,” said attorney Kim Wald. “Families deserve to feel safe in their homes. When property owners cut corners on security, innocent people—especially children—pay the price.”

While no settlement can undo the trauma HF and her family endured, this resolution helps secure critical resources for her long-term medical care and future needs.

Experienced Negligent Security Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been injured due to inadequate security at an apartment complex, hotel, parking lot, or commercial property, The Haggard Law Firm is prepared to help.

 Contact The Haggard Law Firm today to speak with an experienced negligent security attorney and learn how we can fight for justice and accountability.

Maegan Bridwell, Kimberly Wald, and Michael Haggard of The Haggard Law Firm secured a $4.25 Million settlement in a highly contested Florida pedestrian auto car case that underscores a critical principle of personal injury law: a person who causes a car crash is responsible if the injured person is hurt further while getting normal medical treatment for those crash injuries.

The case presented numerous challenges, including disputes over medical causation, alleged gaps in treatment, and attempts to minimize plaintiff’s injuries based on her outwardly active lifestyle. Despite these obstacles, the Haggard Law Firm was able to obtain a settlement that held the Defendant fully responsible and accountable.

A Pedestrian Struck in a Marked Crosswalk

On September 21, 2019, Carlie Howard, then a college student at the University of Tampa, was lawfully walking in a marked crosswalk when she was struck by a vehicle driven by Bonnie Sonnenfeld.

As a direct result of the collision, Carlie suffered injuries to her neck and back. Like many young accident victims, she worked diligently to manage her pain while continuing to pursue her education, navigate the social pressures of being a college student and pursuing her dream career – all of which the defense attempted to weaponize against her throughout litigation.

Years of Conservative Care and a Life Altering Complication

Despite extensive conservative care, Carlie continued to experience cervical pain stemming from the 2019 crash.  In June 2024, after exhausting noninvasive treatment options, her treating physicians recommended an epidural steroid injection — a commonly accepted and medically reasonable treatment for chronic cervical spine injuries caused by trauma.

Tragically, the procedure resulted in an anterior horn injury, permanently altering her independence, career prospects, and quality of life.

The Core Legal Issue: Responsibility for Subsequent Medical Negligence

The central question in this case was not whether the epidural injection carried risk—but who bears legal responsibility when a medical complication arises from treatment required by a defendant’s negligence.

Under Florida law, including the doctrine articulated in Stuart v. Hertz, a negligent driver is responsible not only for the injuries sustained in the crash itself, but also for additional harm caused by reasonable medical care obtained because of those injuries. The law does not allow an at-fault driver to avoid liability simply because the full extent of the harm unfolds later or through medical intervention.

The Haggard Law Firm argued that Carlie’s medical complication was not a separate or unrelated event — it flowed directly from medical treatment necessitated by the injuries she sustained in the pedestrian collision. because of injuries caused by the defendant’s negligence in the auto accident.

Defense Tactics: Denial of Causation

The defense attempted to evade responsibility by:

• Characterizing Carlie’s original injuries as temporary soft-tissue complaints
• Arguing that the epidural injection was unrelated to the 2019 auto accident
• Pointing to alleged gaps in treatment
• Referencing a subsequent motor vehicle accident
• Highlighting Carlie’s outward appearance of an active lifestyle, despite documented and ongoing pain

These arguments were designed to break the causal chain between the auto accident and the ultimate harm.

How The Haggard Law Firm Proved Full Liability

The attorneys met those challenges head-on. Through detailed medical records, testimony from individuals that lived with Carlie throughout her time in college, expert testimony, and a careful reconstruction of Carlie’s treatment course, the firm demonstrated that:

• The epidural injection was medically appropriate and reasonable
• It was recommended after years of conservative care failed
• It was undertaken solely because of injuries caused by the 2019 crash

By clearly establishing a causal link between the original injuries and the treatment that further caused harm to Carile, The Haggard Law Firm held the defendant accountable for the entire scope of harm, including the consequences of medical care required because of the original negligence.

Why This Auto Accident Case Matters

This case serves as an important reminder that defendants cannot evade accountability by dissecting timelines, scrutinizing resilience, or criticizing injured people for attempting to live full lives despite pain.

When an injured person seeks reasonable care for injuries caused by a crash, the at-fault party remains responsible for the outcomes — even when those outcomes are catastrophic.

Advocates for Seriously Injured Auto Accident Victims

The Haggard Law Firm has a long history of representing victims of serious auto accidents, pedestrian crashes, and catastrophic injuries throughout Florida and nationwide. This case reflects the firm’s commitment to taking on complex high-stakes cases involving difficult causation issues, particularly where defendants attempt to shift blame onto the injured person or the medical care required to treat crash-related harm. If you or a loved one has suffered life-altering injuries in an auto accident, The Haggard Law Firm stands ready to fight for full accountability and justice.

The Haggard Law Firm’s Adam Finkel and Michael Haggard secured a $5.5 Million settlement in a negligent security case filed in Palm Beach County, FL.

On February 14, 2023, 28-year-old Troy Nichols was fatally shot outside a bar and grill located beneath The Sands Hotel in Riviera Beach, Florida. His death was the foreseeable result of a property owner and operator’s systemic failure to provide adequate security, despite a long history of violent crime on the premises.

The Haggard Law Firm—recognized as a leading firm handling negligent security and inadequate security cases—was brought in to investigate and litigate the matter on behalf of Troy’s longtime girlfriend and the mother of his child. What followed was a meticulous investigation, aggressive litigation strategy, and a refusal to accept insurance excuses—resulting in a $5.5 million recovery for Troy’s young son.

A Foreseeable Crime on a Dangerous Property

On the night he was killed, Troy Nichols was inside the bar when he was confronted by Lawrence Mitchell, an individual well known for causing disturbances on the property. After the initial confrontation, Troy exited the bar and retreated into the parking lot. Mitchell followed him—and shot him.

This was not an unforeseeable act of violence.

The property had a documented history of criminal activity, much of it tied directly to the bar operating beneath the hotel. Yet the owners and operators of the property failed to implement meaningful security measures to protect patrons, guests, and the public.

Exposing the Reality Behind the Property’s Ownership and Management

Represented initially by Stephen Mickelsen of Mickelsen | Dalton, Troy’s family sought the assistance of Michael A. Haggard and Adam Finkel, partners at The Haggard Law Firm. The firm immediately launched an in-depth negligent security investigation and filed a premises liability lawsuit against:

• The Fairway Trust (property owner)
• The Sands Hotel & Apts, LLC (property operator)

Through discovery, Haggard and Finkel uncovered the intertwined and self-serving structure behind the property’s ownership and management. The Villari family were:

• Beneficiaries of the Fairway Trust
• Co-managing members of The Sands Hotel & Apts, LLC
• Directly responsible for security decisions on the property

A family friend—installed as co-manager—was placed in charge of “security,” eliminating any separation between ownership, management, and safety oversight. This structure allowed the firm to establish that knowledge of danger held by one entity was legally imputed to all.

Inadequate Security Measures That Failed to Protect Anyone

Discovery revealed that the defendants were well aware that the bar was a magnet for criminal activity. Despite this knowledge, they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent violent crime, including:

• No effective, skilled or licensed security guards
• No uniformed or armed personnel
• No meaningful deterrence of known criminal behavior

Instead, so-called “security guards” were often employees from the Villari family’s karate studio or personal acquaintances, inadequately trainieed and unequipped to manage a high-risk property. These individuals were not in uniform, not armed, and had no measurable impact on safety.

When confronted with these failures, the defendants attempted to shift blame by claiming the parking lot was owned by the city. However, the evidence demonstrated that the property required professional, uniformed security—or the removal of the bar tenant altogether, something the owners had the power to do but chose not to.

Refusing to Accept Insurance Denials and Half Measures

As trial approached, the defendants—while refusing to admit fault—sought resolution. The damages were staggering: Troy’s infant son would grow up without a father due to a preventable act of violence.

The primary insurance carrier quickly tendered its $1 million policy limits. The excess insurer, however, attempted to avoid responsibility altogether, arguing a technicality—that it insured “The Sands Hotel” but not the named defendant, The Sands Hotel & Apts, LLC.

Many law firms would have stopped there.

The Haggard Law Firm did not.

Working alongside co-counsel Edward Zebersky,  Haggard and Finkel took the fight directly to the insurance company. Through relentless advocacy and coverage litigation strategy, Haggard, Finkel, and Zebersky secured an additional $4.5 million, bringing the total recovery to $5.5 million for Troy’s son.

Criminal Accountability and Civil Justice

In parallel criminal proceedings, Lawrence Mitchell was convicted of second-degree murder. But criminal convictions do not hold property owners accountable for creating dangerous environments. Civil litigation does.

This case stands as a powerful reminder that property owners and operators can—and must—be held accountable when they fail to provide reasonable security and innocent people are harmed as a result.

National Leaders in Negligent Security Litigation

For decades, The Haggard Law Firm has been at the forefront of negligent security and premises liability litigation, taking on hotels, apartment complexes, bars, nightclubs, resorts, and commercial property owners.

If you or a loved one has been injured—or killed—due to inadequate security, experience matters. Results matter. Relentless advocacy matters.

Contact The Haggard Law Firm today to speak with attorneys who know how to uncover the truth, confront powerful defendants, and fight insurance companies that refuse to do what’s right.

A Perspective From The Haggard Law Firm

A fatal drowning in Miami-Dade County has once again exposed the deadly risks posed by unsafe swimming pools at short-term vacation rentals—risks The Haggard Law Firm has confronted for decades on behalf of grieving families.

According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, a 3-year-old girl died early Saturday morning after wandering into a backyard and falling into an unprotected swimming pool at a short-term rental home in the Kendale Lakes area. Deputies were called shortly before 6 a.m. to the home near Southwest 132nd Avenue and 119th Street, where a family of seven—including five children—was staying while visiting the area.

This heartbreaking loss is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader, systemic failure in pool safety, particularly within the rapidly growing short-term vacation rental industry.

A Preventable Tragedy We Have Seen Too Often

For more than three decades, The Haggard Law Firm has represented families devastated by child fatal and non-fatal drownings, many of which occurred in residential swimming pools lacking basic safety protections. Time and again, our investigations reveal the same preventable factors:

• No four-sided pool fencing
• No self-latching or self-closing gates
• No pool alarms
• No clear warnings provided to guests with children

Young children are naturally curious. They can slip away silently in seconds. That is why Florida law, safety experts, and child-advocacy organizations have long emphasized the importance of layered pool safety measures—especially at properties marketed to families.

Short-Term Rentals and a Dangerous Gap in Accountability

Short-term rental platforms and property owners profit by offering homes with pools as “family-friendly” amenities. Yet far too often, those same properties fail to meet basic child-safety standards.

Unlike hotels and resorts, short-term rentals often operate in a gray area of regulation. Families reasonably assume that a listed vacation home is safe. Tragically, we have learned through litigation that this assumption can be deadly.

The Haggard Law Firm has gone head-to-head with short-term rental owners, property managers, and insurers who failed to secure pools or warn families of known dangers. In many cases, these deaths could have been prevented with modest safety investments costing very little in an effort to to save a life.

Drowning Is the Leading Cause of Death for Young Children

According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 4. Residential pools—particularly those at private homes and vacation rentals—are among the most common locations.

These statistics are not abstract to us. They represent children we have met, families we have stood beside, and futures forever altered by negligence.

Legal Accountability Saves Lives

While no lawsuit can undo a loss like this, legal accountability plays a critical role in:

• Forcing unsafe property owners to change
• Improving industry-wide safety standards
• Raising public awareness
• Giving families answers and a voice

Every case The Haggard Law Firm takes is driven by the belief that preventable tragedies must lead to meaningful change.

A Call for Stronger Safety Standards

This Miami-Dade tragedy should serve as a wake-up call. Short-term rental owners must be held to the same—or higher—safety expectations as hotels when marketing properties to families with children.

Pool fencing, alarms, and clear safety disclosures are not optional. They are lifesaving necessities.

Our hearts are with this family as they navigate an unimaginable loss. We hope their child’s story leads to reforms that prevent another family from experiencing the same heartbreak.

If you or someone you love has been affected by a fatal or non-fatal drowning , The Haggard Law Firm has the experience, resources, and resolve to pursue accountability and advocate for safer communities.

CONTACT US

RESOURCES – National Drowning Prevention Alliance

The Haggard Law Firm is deepening its long-standing commitment to victims of medical malpractice by making significant new investments into its litigation resources and trial capabilities. As part of this expansion, renowned medical malpractice attorney Robert J. Dickman Jr., Esq. will now serve as Of Counsel to the firm—bringing with him more than 26 years of nationally respected experience representing patients and families harmed by medical negligence.

A Proven Leader in Medical Malpractice Litigation

Born and raised in Miami-Dade County, Robert Dickman, Jr. has dedicated his career to seeking justice for those harmed by preventable medical errors. After completing his undergraduate studies at Pepperdine University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and History, he returned home to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law.

Since being admitted to the Florida Bar in 1999, Mr. Dickman has remained in exemplary standing. His credentials also include admission to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and membership in the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a distinction reserved for trial lawyers who exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and courtroom excellence.

He has led one of Florida’s most successful plaintiff-side medical malpractice practices. His firm has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, including more than 85 cases exceeding $1 million each—a record that places him among the most accomplished medical malpractice trial lawyers in the state.

Decades of Experience Helping Families Impacted by Medical Negligence

“At The Haggard Law Firm, our mission has always been to fight for victims of medical malpractice and ensure they have the resources they need to hold negligent parties accountable,” said Michael Haggard, Managing Partner of The Haggard Law Firm. “By expanding our litigation efforts, we are able to serve more families, handle complex cases more effectively, and deliver the justice our clients deserve.”

Throughout his career, Mr. Dickman has focused on some of the most complex and emotionally devastating medical malpractice matters, including:

• Hospital negligence and system-wide failures in corporate healthcare operations
• Obstetrical and birth injury cases, including preventable harm to newborns and mothers during labor and delivery
• Catastrophic medical injuries, especially cases requiring long-term or lifelong care

His experience, combined with his commitment to patient safety and accountability, aligns seamlessly with The Haggard Law Firm’s mission to protect the most vulnerable victims of negligent conduct.

Strengthening Advocacy for Medical Malpractice Victims

By welcoming Mr. Dickman as Of Counsel and enhancing its investment in medical malpractice litigation, The Haggard Law Firm is expanding its ability to fight for victims and families across Florida and the United States. This strategic growth ensures that patients harmed by doctors, hospitals, and healthcare systems have unparalleled access to skilled trial lawyers who can match the resources of large healthcare corporations and insurance companies.

The firm remains steadfast in its mission: to secure justice, accountability, and financial security for individuals and families devastated by medical negligence.

$3 Million Settlement Secured by The Haggard Law Firm in Jacksonville Negligent Security Wrongful Death Case

A Preventable Tragedy at a Jacksonville Apartment Complex

A Property With a Growing Crime Problem — and No Security Measures

• The apartment complex had experienced multiple prior criminal incidents, even though it was newly built.
• The property was surrounded by older complexes with long histories of gun violence, shootings, and murders.
• Management and ownership knew or should have known about the crime patterns in and around the property.
• Despite these risks, no reasonable security measures were implemented to protect residents and visitors.

• No real manned security or off-duty police presence
• No access control, no gates or fences
• No video surveillance
• No measures to deter violent criminals from entering the property

Holding Negligent Property Owners Accountable

The Haggard Law Firm: National Negligent Security Litigation

For decades, The Haggard Law Firm has been recognized as a national leader in negligent security, wrongful death, and violent crime litigation. Our attorneys have secured some of the largest verdicts and settlements in the country on behalf of victims of shootings, assaults, and other preventable tragedies.

If you or your loved one has been harmed due to inadequate security at an apartment complex, hotel, business, or other property, our team is here to help you pursue justice.

Contact The Haggard Law Firm today to discuss your case or learn more about your legal options: