Local Law Firms Home > Real Estate Law News > Real Estate Law Makes Landlord Pay $1M For Crime on Property The real estate law came down hard on a property owner in Jacksonville, FL who was lax about security for tenants in a neighborhood rife with crime. Danielle Melton, 19, was killed as an innocent bystander in a drug-related crossfire on August 30, 2011 outside the Prince Street Apartments at 1324 Prince St. Over 30 shots went off, which also wounded 16-month old Marc Smith, who took a bullet in the head. The little boy survived and is recovering now. The fight was between Billy Lorenzo Johnson and a Kenneth E. Curry. The 31-year-old Johnson came to see Curry, 25, and began fighting, allegedly regarding a turf war over drugs and because Curry had been attacked a few days prior to the shooting. Theodist Tyrone Richardson, 20, was at the complex and he and Curry allegedly drew guns and started firing. The last known addresses of all three are in different places, none of which was 1324 Prince Street. Richardson has pleaded not guilty for throwing missiles into a dwelling, plus two counts of murder and another aggravated battery charge with deadly weapons. The other guilty party was Richard Victor Dixon, 25, a former convict who has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm. New York-based CLA South LLC, the property owner, agreed to a settlement after a wrongful death claim was filed by Danielle Melton's mother Michelle Rockett on behalf of the Melton estate. The Melton estate's lawyer said that police have responded to 45 calls for violent crimes on the same property in the last three years, in addition to more than 100 more within 500 feet of the property. The Melton estate's beneficiaries include two small toddlers, each of whom gets $300,000 in annuities. Rockett gets $35,000 and will be raising the two babies. The balance from the million dollar settlement covers the legal expenses. Did you know? |