"Sex, Drugs & Violence" Negligent Premises Security Litigation Seminar Gives Insight to Tactics in Investigating and Trying Cases [Oct. 20, 2009]

10-20-2009

MIAMI, FL – October 20, 2009 – John Elliott Leighton presented today a seminar on Negligent Premises Security Litigation in Florida at Miami’s InterContinental Hotel. Entitled “Sex, Drugs & Violence: Negligent Premises Security Litigation,” his presentation covered strategies and tactics in investigating, litigating and trying premises security cases, as well as case law, relevant statutes, codes and ordinances.  The seminar was attended by more than 130 professionals. Mr. Leighton is the Managing Partner of Leighton Panoff Law, P.A., a personal injury law firm with offices in Miami and Orlando.

“The field of inadequate security litigation has exploded in the last two decades,” said Mr. Leighton.  “Considered the ‘product liability case of the new millennium,’ premises security cases have increased in number and value.”

Florida has been the number three state for inadequate security claims (behind Texas and New York but ahead of California). In 1994 Miami was the number one city for overall crime per 1000 residents, ahead of virtually all other metropolitan areas. Broward County ranked third in the country in crime, making crime – and inadequate security litigation – a growth industry. In 2008 there was one violent crime every 4 minutes and 11 seconds in Florida.

According to a study by Liability Consultants Inc., the average settlement in a rape security case is $600,000, and the average verdict in the same type of case is $1.75 million.  The average verdict in an assault in a hotel or motel is $254,850, with 25% totaling $1 million or more.

The Seminar was moderated by Matthew Seth Sarelson, Esq., of Sarelson Law Firm, P.A., and provided three General CLE credits, with two eligible toward Criminal or Civil Trial Certification.

Mr. Leighton is Chairman of The Academy of Trial Advocacy, chairs the Inadequate Security Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice/Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and serves on the board of trustees of the National College of Advocacy. He is past Chairman of the Association of Trial Lawyers Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premises Liability Section.  He is the author of Litigating Premises Security Cases (Thomson West), a two volume text on handling negligent security cases.

Negligent Premises Security Seminar.pdf