4 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A family from Brazil plans to sue after a 2-year-old girl and her father were injured Sunday when a throng of people rushed from a restaurant during a mass shooting, the family’s attorney announced Wednesday.

Campione’s lawsuit was the second announced  in the aftermath of the mass shooting. Morgan & Morgan said it will be representing several victims in a similar lawsuit alleging security negligence.

What happens if event organizers fail to provide adequate security at a high-profile occasion and you become injured?

Could you file a security negligence lawsuit?

According to Campione Law PA, you can.

Such is the case for a family of three who was injured at a shooting in Jacksonville. Let’s briefly examine the case:

On August 26, 2018, a gunman opened fire at a video game tournament in Jacksonville. The shooting in Jacksonville received widespread media attention. Two fatalities were reported and multiple people were injured.

Among the crowd of injured parties was a family from Brazil, who was vacationing in the area at the time. Enrique and Jennifer Freitas reported that during the commotion, the couple, along with their two-year old daughter, were grabbing food at a nearby restaurant within the complex.

The family witnessed scores of people flooding the restaurant in an attempt to escape the shooting at the video game tournament. Enrique Freitas’ paternal instincts kicked in and he scooped up his toddler to prevent injury from the stampede.

Enrique, with his daughter in his arms, was both pushed to the ground. Hospital records show that Enrique suffered a road rash on his elbows. His daughter, Maria, sustained a head injury and busted lip.

Story By: Tarik Minor – Anchor, I-TEAM reporter, Francine Frazier – Senior web producer 

The Expectation of Safety

A security negligence lawsuit is valid in this case for several reasons:

  1. Big Event with No Private Security Detail – It was business as usual for the event organizers. Most credible attorneys who review this case would come to the consensus that at the very least, private security or an off-duty officer should have been hired. In other words, the organizers were negligent – and people suffered as a result.
  2. Past History of Crimes in the Vicinity – The complex has had a recent history of shootings in Jacksonville – though not a mass shooting.
  3. Records of Violent and Threatening Behaviors Among Gamers – Video gaming tournaments are notorious for breeding heated arguments and hostility among some participants, not all. During the frenzy of the competition, everyone wants to win. Not all participants will show good sportsmanship, and as a result, most would expect a basic level of safety to be enforced. This was not the case with this shooting in Jacksonville. The ball was dropped somehow, as the organizers relied solely on the security of the whole complex.  

Taking Action for Victims Hurt at the Shooting in Jacksonville

Campione Law P.A. filed a security negligence lawsuit on behalf of the Freitas family. Multiple other claims have been filed by other attorneys in the area. In the case of this shooting in Jacksonville, however, it’s recommended that injured parties consult a seasoned attorney who understands!

There’s a good chance that the shooting in Jacksonville could be prevented or deterred had there been an armed security detail onsite. Campione Law P.A. is out to prove this and get justice for injured parties.

If you were affected by another party’s negligence and lack of security at a public event, get in touch with Campione Law P.A. for help filing a security negligence lawsuit. The number to call is (904) 990-8400.