Louisville Negligent Security Lawyers Case Summaries

Liability for Inadequate or Negligent Security

The duty of property owners to maintain a safe environment can extend beyond preventing personal injury and can include providing an environment that is reasonably safe from robbery, assault and other intentional acts. This duty may include providing security personnel at bars and nightclubs and in parking lots, as well as ensuring adequate lighting, alarms and emergency features in parking garages, carports, stairwells and other places that are susceptible to a robbery, battery or sexual assault. This duty may be especially heightened in a high-crime area or if recent violent or criminal activity has been occurring in the vicinity.

While we do not expect property owners to be responsible for the criminal acts of third parties, we do expect them to take reasonable, commonsense precautions for the safety of persons they have invited onto their property, or who have a legal right to be there.

1. Mayme W., a sixty four year old woman living in “The Blanton House” of downtown Louisville, Kentucky was brutally raped and assaulted on October 3, 1997. Mayme had been a resident of this residence for almost twenty years and never once had issues with her safety. This assault was caused by insufficient security policies, the failure to properly follow existing security procedures, and inept security personnel. It turns out, the security guards did not have background checks or any guard training. At approximately 12:30 a.m., a young, black male pressed the buzzer, and the security guard allowed him to enter the building. The young man then proceeded to write down a name that the guard was not familiar with next Mayme’s apartment number and advanced into the elevator. Minutes later, Mayme was awaken by a knock on her apartment door. When she opened her door, she was attacked by a disguised intruder who forced his way inside the apartment, raped her, and stole her purse. Mrs. Williams was unable to recognize her attacker by either his voice or his appearance during the assault. To further complicate any identification, the security cameras at The Blanton House were non-operational that night. Following the attack, Mayme received treatment for her physical injuries at University and Jewish Hospitals. Her significant injuries suffered during the attack and brutal rape included a broken back and multiple cuts and contusions on her knees and legs. The rehabilitation therapy used on her included having to wear a back brace for many months and also involved the temporary use of a wheelchair, a walker, and finally a cane. In addition to her physical injuries, she also received psychological counseling at the Center for Family and Children. The grandson of Mayme, was eventually arrested and charged with rape, robbery, and burglary. On October 30, 1998, he pled guilty to all charges and received a prison term of ten years. Mayme received a settlement of a confidential amount from The Blanton House’s insurance company.