Articles Tagged with Georgia Apartment Shooting

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Adequate Security? Our Legal Take: Wesley Park Apartment Robbery-Shooting Leaves 1 Injured

Local News

One person was reportedly shot and injured at the Wesley Park Apartments in Norcross Saturday afternoon, October 31, 2015.

According to 11 Alive News, the victim was shot during what Gwinnett Police believe was a robbery “at building 6 of Wesley Park Apartments,” on Graves Road. The victim was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center with reportedly non-life-threatening injuries.

Police have not yet identified a suspect in the attack.

Our Legal Take

Apartment complex residents have a right to feel safe and secure while in the community. The Murray Law Firm questions the level of security provided to those on the apartment property and whether this assault may have been prevented.

  • How did the gunman gain entry to the property? What access-controls and security measures, such as gated entry, fencing, surveillance cameras, and security patrols, were in place to deter crime?
  • Have there been previous incidents of violence on or near property and, if so, were any additional security precautions implemented by the apartment owner or management company to protect residents?

By law, apartment owners are required to protect all residents and guests legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm.  Should the facts of this matter reveal that the apartment complex owner or management company failed to provide adequate security, the victim may elect to seek justice and pursue a legal claim for injuries. Based upon its extensive and successful experience in handling negligent security cases against apartment complexes in Georgia, The Murray Law Firm suggests that photographs and a thorough, unbiased inspection of the apartment and property will need to be performed immediately, before any evidence may be repaired, damaged or destroyed.

We Fight for Victims of Apartment Security Negligence in Georgia…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

Headline Frame Fox News DeskThe Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for victims of unsafe properties in Georgia, and recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for one of our Clients in Fulton County State Court.

We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 404.842.1600. Consultations are free and confidential.

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Choosing the Right Attorney

Selecting the right attorney for you or your family is highly important. You must feel confident that the attorney you hire has a complete understanding of the law applicable to your particular case, and has successful experience in handling such cases.

Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!

You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:

ABA Center for Professional ResponsibilityA LAWYER “SHALL NOT” CONTACT A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT THROUGH A “LIVE TELEPHONE” OR AN “IN-PERSON” VISIT.

– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.

SAC EM Update

Contingency Fees Disclaimer: “Contingent attorneys’ fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.”

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Security cameraA Jefferson City Police Apartment Security & Safety report warns, “There are some criminals who prey specifically upon apartments and condominiums….You should be aware of, and periodically review, the security and safety of your apartment and apartment building. In rental buildings, the building owner and management are responsible for security.”

Apartment complex owners and management companies may implement a variety of security precautions to meet this crucial responsibility. According to JCPD, this duty typically involves:

  1. ensuring that security systems meet or exceed security requirements for apartment buildings, such as deadbolt locks on doors, good lighting and window locks;
  2. ensuring that security systems provide reasonable protection for all residents — in their apartments and in common areas, such as parking garages and elevators;
  3. conducting regular inspections to spot and fix security problems, such as broken locks or burned­out exterior lights, and asking residents to submit security concerns or suggestions as part of continuing maintenance;
  4. dealing with complaints about dangerous situations, suspicious activities or broken security items.

The Jefferson City Police Department recommends particular attention to the following security measures:

  • Apartment Corridor & Balcony Doors

Doors are a burglar’s first choice of entry. Your apartment door should have a good deadbolt lock. One feature to look for is lock throw — the length the locking bolt protrudes from the door into the surrounding door frame when placed in the full lock position. Test this by locking the door while it is open — a good deadbolt lock protrudes 35 mm (1 1∕2 in.) or more when fully extended. A strong deadbolt lock also has a jimmy­ proof strike plate (the part of the lock assembly mounted in the door frame to receive the bolt). The strike plate should be secured to the door framing by screws at least 50–75 mm (2–3 in.) long. This ensures the strike plate is fastened to the structure of the wall and not just the door frame….Install a door viewer (peephole) in your entrance door, if you do not already have one.

Equip balcony doors with the same type of deadbolt locks recommended for corridor doors. There is special hardware to secure sliding balcony doors but a simple, effective, inexpensive solution is a sturdy piece of wood in the door’s track to prevent the sliding door from opening.

  • Windows

Make sure all windows close fully, that the locking hardware is in good condition and that it is easy to lock the window when you shut it. Ensure that a thief cannot lift a horizontal window out of its track.

  • Electronic Building Entry Systems

The front door entry system of most apartment buildings allows a resident to remotely let guests into the building. These systems are only effective if the front door locking system functions and intruders cannot take advantage of an open door to enter the building (known as piggy­backing).

  • Elevators & Lobbies

Elevators and lobbies should be well lit, day and night. Interior lighting in lobbies and corridors should not be on an accessible switch but should instead be controlled by a timer or photocell….Possible hiding places under stairwells should be eliminated. Elevators should be equipped with both a telephone and alarm or duress buttons connected to the resident manager’s unit and an outside central monitoring station. Lobbies should have glass doors, glass in exterior doors and/or side lights.

  • Laundry Rooms & Workout Rooms

Laundry rooms in apartment or condominium complexes can represent special security problems. Ideally, the entrance into laundry rooms should be from the exterior of the building and clearly visible. Laundry room door locks should require a tenant or owner key. The laundry room door should have a window in it. A duress alarm and/or telephone should be available in the laundry room. Interior lighting should be wired to remain on permanently during hours of operation. Residents should be encouraged not to use the laundry facilities alone or during late night hours. The same crime prevention or security recommendations applicable to laundry rooms are also applicable to common exercise or workout rooms.

View the complete JCPD Apartment Security & Safety report here.

We are here to Help. Contact us for a Free Consultation.

The Murray Law Firm has extensive and successful experience in representing victims of apartment violence and security negligence in Georgia and we offer our legal expertise, if desired. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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Choosing the Right Attorney

Selecting the right attorney for you or your family is highly important. You must feel confident that the attorney you hire has a complete understanding of the law applicable to your particular case, and has successful experience in handling such cases.

Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!

You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:

ABA Center for Professional ResponsibilityA LAWYER “SHALL NOT” CONTACT A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT THROUGH A “LIVE TELEPHONE” OR AN “IN-PERSON” VISIT.

– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.
SAC EM Update

Contingency Fees Disclaimer: “Contingent attorneys’ fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.”

By
Children Attend 2012 Prayer Rally to End Violence at River Glen Apartments. (The Augusta Chronicle)

Children Attend Prayer Rally to End Violence at River Glenn Apartments. (The Augusta Chronicle)

Every family has a right to raise their children in a safe, secure environment. Yet, as apartment violence soars across the country, many apartment complex residents live terrified for the safety of their families. The violence must stop!

How can police help to prevent crime in my apartment community?

Many police departments are now taking a proactive approach to apartment crime. They have developed training programs to educate apartment owners and mangers on how to protect residents and reduce community crime. These free incentive programs encourage apartment complex owners to improve their communities through specific physical changes, such as the installation of bright lighting, proper window and door locks, surveillance cameras, and fencing. They also teach apartment owners and managers how to recognize criminal activity on property.

The Dallas Police Department describes their Gold Star Certification Program as “a cooperative effort between the Dallas Police Department, Apartment Association of Greater Dallas, along with owners, managers and residents of apartment communities to combat crime in those communities.”

Talk to your local police department to see if they offer an apartment-focused crime reduction program and what you can do to get your apartment complex owner, manager, and neighbors involved.

Is my apartment complex legally responsible for keeping residents safe?

By law, apartment complex owners and management companies are required to protect all residents and guests legally on premises from any foreseeable harm. For example, should an apartment owner have knowledge of previous violence on or near property, they have a duty to take extraordinary security precautions to protect residents and deter future crime.

Security precautions may include:

  • Enrollment in a crime-reduction training program at the police department.
  • Background checks on tenants prior to residency and a crime-free tenant rental contract.
  • Installment of security precautions, such as bright lighting, security patrols, fencing, gated-entry, surveillance cameras, locks, and alarm systems.
  • Review of daily 911 activity logs for the property and surrounding neighborhood.
  • Proper maintenance of property and structures, including fencing, gating, lighting, windows, cameras and locks.

What can neighbors do to stop crime in their apartment community?

Many apartment complex residents want to take a proactive approach to protecting their families and reducing apartment community crime.

  • See something, say something. Following a string of shootings, residents of a New York apartment complex recently coordinated with police, city leaders, neighbors and apartment management to create a neighborhood watch.
  • Speak out. Residents of a Georgia apartment complex plagued with violence, recently hosted a peace rally to bring attention to apartment complex violence. These peaceful protests encourage neighbors to watch out for one another, community leaders and police to get involved, and witnesses and victims of violent crimes to come forward.
  • Know your rights. If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one to apartment complex violence, speak with an experienced premises liability firm to learn your rights. No one should have to raise their family in fear.

We are here to Help. Contact us for a Free Consultation.

The Murray Law Firm has extensive and successful experience in representing victims of apartment violence and security negligence in and we offer our legal expertise, if desired. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

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