$3.9M Verdict in Florida Apartment Shooting Wrongful Death
Table of Contents
Case Background
The case, filed in the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, involved the death of Makye Vogel, a minor who was shot and killed on April 1, 2023, at The Avenues Apartments located at 7915 Baymeadows Circle in Jacksonville, Florida.
Cause
Heather Moorer, serving as personal representative of her deceased son's estate, brought a wrongful death action under Florida's Wrongful Death Act against the property owner and management company. The lawsuit alleged that the Defendants failed to provide adequate security at the apartment complex, which the Plaintiff claimed led directly to the fatal shooting of her son.
Injury
Makye Vogel, a minor child and lawful invitee at the apartment complex, sustained fatal gunshot wounds while present in the common areas of the property. The shooting resulted in his death on April 1, 2023. An unknown shooter committed the act and was never identified or apprehended.
Damages Sought
The Plaintiff sought damages exceeding $50,000, including compensation for the mental pain and suffering of the surviving parents, loss of the child's support and services, funeral expenses, loss of prospective net accumulations, and loss of care, maintenance, and companionship as permitted under Florida law.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: Heather Moorer, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Makye Vogel, deceased minor
· Counsel for Plaintiff: Kimberly Wald, Esq. | Michael A. Haggard, Esq. | Adam Cory Finkel
· Experts for Plaintiff: Michael S. D’Angelo
Defendants: 7915 Baymeadows Circle Owner, LLC | Goldoller Management Services, LLC | Signal 88, Llc
· Counsel for Defendants: Nicholas P. Dareneau, Esq | Claire Armagnac-Rodriguez | John Austin Rine | Eric Samuel Kay | Katherine Leigh Sloan | Joseph Kahlil Herro
· Experts for Defendants: Lance Foster | Kevin Layman | Robert Mateo | Norman D. Bates
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
The Plaintiff's counsel argued that the apartment complex was located in a high crime area where numerous criminal incidents, including shootings, assaults, robberies, and drug dealing, occurred before the fatal shooting. The attorneys maintained that the Defendants knew or should have known about these dangers and failed to implement proper security measures to protect residents and their guests.
Claims
The Plaintiff brought negligence claims against both Defendants. The complaint alleged the property owner and management company breached their non-delegable duty to protect residents and invitees from foreseeable criminal attacks. The Plaintiff argued that the Defendants failed to provide adequate security personnel, failed to maintain working surveillance cameras, failed to ensure the gated entrance functioned properly, and failed to implement screening procedures to prevent unauthorized persons from entering the premises. The lawsuit also claimed the Defendants created a dangerous atmosphere that facilitated criminal activity.
The original complaint also named Signal 88, LLC as a Defendant, alleging the security company contracted to patrol the premises failed to fulfill its duties. Signal 88 denied providing security services at the property and contested all allegations. The jury ultimately found Signal 88 bore no fault for the incident.
Defense
Signal 88, represented by Claire Armagnac-Rodriguez of Resnick & Louis, P.C., filed affirmative defenses asserting the company did not provide security services at the apartment complex and therefore owed no duty to the victim. The defense argued that the damages resulted from the acts of third parties, including the unidentified shooter, over whom the Defendants exercised no control. Signal 88 also maintained that any harm was not foreseeable and that the Plaintiff's claims were speculative.
Jury Verdict
On December 11, 2025, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Plaintiff. The jury found that 7915 Baymeadows Circle Owner, LLC and Goldoller Management Services, LLC were negligent and that their negligence was a legal cause of Makye Vogel's injury and death. The jury determined that Signal 88 was not at fault and that the unknown shooter bore partial responsibility.
The jury apportioned fault as follows: 7915 Baymeadows Circle Owner, LLC and Goldoller Management Services, LLC received 30 percent of the fault, Signal 88 received zero percent, and the unknown shooter received 70 percent.
The jury awarded Heather Moorer damages for her pain and suffering as a result of her son's death. For past pain and suffering, the jury awarded $6,000,000. For future pain and suffering, the jury awarded $7,000,000, bringing the total pain and suffering damages to $13,000,000.
On December 16, 2025, the Circuit Court entered a final judgment incorporating the jury verdict and a stipulated amount of $2,685 for funeral expenses. The Court adjudged that the Plaintiff shall recover $3,902,685 from the Defendants 7915 Baymeadows Circle Owner, LLC and Goldoller Management Services, LLC, with interest accruing at 8.65 percent per year. This amount reflected the Defendants' 30 percent share of the total damages plus the funeral expenses.
The case proceeded through nearly two years of litigation from its filing in April 2024 to the December 2025 verdict. The outcome held the property owner and management company accountable for inadequate security measures while recognizing that the criminal shooter bore the majority of responsibility for the tragic death of the young victim.
Court Documents