ST. LOUIS — A tenant's guest who was shot in the neck is suing the property owner and operators, alleging failure to protect.
Tamara Collier filed a complaint on Jan. 1 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against McCormack Baron Management Inc,. and Cochran Redevelopment Phase I and II LP alleging that the defendants failed their legal duty to their tenants and their tenants' guests to take reasonable measures to make common areas safe against foreseeable risks of harm.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Sept. 1. 2017, while lawfully on the defendants' premises as a guest, she was shot in the neck by a semi-automatic weapon as she was doing laundry inside an apartment. Devonte Morgan allegedly fired multiple rounds from the weapon while in the common area of the apartment complex.
As a result, Collier claims she sustained extensive internal damage, psychic trauma and lost her ability to enjoy the ordinary pursuits of life.
The plaintiff holds McCormack Baron Management and Cochran Redevelopment Phase I and II responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to provide adequate supervision of unauthorized dangerous people coming into the common areas of the complex, and failed to provide adequate safety and security policies, procedures or measures to reasonably deter and prevent criminal activity.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury; and seeks judgment for a reasonably amount in excess of $25,000, together with pre-judgment interest, costs expended, punitive damages, and any further relief the court deems just and proper. She is represented by Evelyn C. Lewis of Evelyn C. Lewis, Attorney at Law in St. Louis and Joseph M. Taylor of Taylor & Taylor, PC in St. Louis.
St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court case number 1822-CC00060