Security Guard Rejected Blame for Not Detaining Impaired Man
A visitor to a gated community was found 95% liable in his drowning.
May 12, 2020 at 04:57 PM
1 minute read
NEGLIGENT SECURITY
DUVAL CIRCUIT COURT
A jury largely absolved a Jacksonville community's security provider in its handling of an incident when a guest drowned.
On Oct. 26, 2014, Nicholas Sitts, 20, used an illicit substance while visiting a friend at the Pablo Creek Reserve gated community. A security guard later saw Sitts wandering through the community. The guard telephoned 911 and waited for police. Sitts fled and later drowned in a lake in the community. Sitts' mother sued the guard's employer, contending he didn't do enough to aid her son.
The jury found the guard 5 percent liable, placing the rest of the blame on Sitts and a friend who provided the illicit substance. The jury's $2.97 million award was reduced to $148,360.
Case: Estate of Sitts v. Ames, No. 16-2015-CA-000794-XXXX-MA
Plaintiffs attorneys: Eric Block, Michael D. Marrese and Dustin Middleton, Morgan & Morgan, Jacksonville
Defense attorneys: Daniel J. Santaniello, Boca Raton, and Todd T. Springer, Jacksonville, Luks Santaniello,
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