Suraci v. Brice Foods, Inc., Tex. Travis County 53rd Jud.
Dist. Ct., No. 93-01048, 38 ATLA L. Rep. 25.
Inadequate Security: Business/Store
Twelve million dollar settlement reached in inadequate
security lawsuit brought by parents of two teenage patrons and
two teenage employees of shopping center yogurt store shot to
death during robbery.
During a robbery of a yogurt store in a shopping center,
the robbers shot to death two teenage customers and two teenage
employees. The parents of the four slain teenagers sued the
owners of the store, claiming that there was inadequate
employee training as to how to deal with robberies, and
inadequate security provided.
The suit alleged prior crimes in the area, and asserted
that the defendant store owners should have supplied security
systems or guards to protect both patrons and employees.
The suit also claimed that the risk of harm such as
occurred had been increased because of the store's employing of
inexperienced youths for the night shift at the store during a
time when most other stores in the shopping center were closed.
The suit named the owners of the shopping center as additional
defendants, also asserting inadequate security on their
part.
A $12 million settlement was reached, with $10 million paid
by the store owners, $1 million paid by the shopping center,
and $1 million paid by the workers' compensation carrier of the
store.