On June 3, 2019, Tyata Brown, an employee in a building at 76 South Laura Street in Jacksonville, entered an elevator to reach her office on the 14th floor. The building was owned by VyStar Financial Group, LLC, and Otis Elevator Company was responsible for maintaining its elevators. The elevator malfunctioned shortly after she stepped inside. It first ascended to the 17th floor, then dropped slightly before rising again. This pattern of minor ascents and descents continued until the elevator reached the 18th floor. Suddenly, the elevator plummeted rapidly and came to a stop above the first floor. Brown attempted to use the emergency button, but it did not work. She remained trapped in the elevator