Practice Areas
Negligent Security Lawyer in Stuart & Martin County
Assaulted, shot, or robbed on someone else's property? Property owners can be held liable when inadequate security makes a crime foreseeable. Juan Cordero Lawyers has recovered over $300 million in negligent security cases — including a $28.9M verdict, one of the largest in Florida.
Florida Statute of Limitations: You have 4 years from the date of the incident to file a negligent security lawsuit. If a criminal was convicted, that conviction can be powerful evidence in your civil case.
$300M+
Recovered in negligent security cases
$28.9M
Largest single verdict
Crime Victim Advocate
Certified by the Florida Attorney General's Office
CPTED Expertise
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
Negligent Security Cases We Handle
Property owners — including apartment complexes, hotels, bars, nightclubs, parking garages, and shopping centers — have a duty to provide reasonable security when crime is foreseeable. When they fail, and someone is harmed, they can be held civilly liable. Juan Cordero Lawyers has secured some of the largest negligent security verdicts in Florida.
- Shootings in apartment complexes and parking lots
- Assaults and robberies at hotels and motels
- Bar and nightclub violence
- Attacks in parking garages and structures
- Sexual assaults on poorly secured properties
- Convenience store and gas station robberies
- Campus and school security failures
- Crimes at shopping centers and retail properties
Why Juan Cordero Is Different
Most personal injury attorneys handle negligent security as a sideline. For Juan Cordero, it is a specialty — backed by credentials, methodology, and a track record that defense attorneys know.
Crime Victim Advocate — Certified by the Florida Attorney General
Juan Cordero holds a Crime Victim Advocate certification issued by the Florida Attorney General's Office. This credential is not held by most personal injury attorneys. It reflects a deep understanding of how the criminal justice system intersects with civil liability — and how to use a criminal conviction, police report, or prior crime history to maximum effect in a civil negligent security case.
$300M+ Recovered in Negligent Security Cases
Over a 27-year career, Juan Cordero has recovered more than $300 million for victims of negligent security across Florida. The largest single verdict was $28.9 million — one of the largest negligent security verdicts in Florida history. These results are not accidents. They come from a proven methodology: early evidence preservation, CPTED-based security audits, and aggressive litigation against property owners and their insurers.
CPTED — Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
CPTED is the science of how physical environments can be designed to reduce crime. Juan Cordero works with CPTED-certified security experts to evaluate whether a property's lighting, sight lines, fencing, access control, and camera placement met the standard of care. This expert analysis is often the difference between a settlement and a verdict — and between a modest recovery and a life-changing one.
Local Knowledge: Fort Pierce & Port St. Lucie Apartment Complexes
Many of the most dangerous negligent security incidents on the Treasure Coast occur at apartment complexes in Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie — properties with documented histories of prior crime that management has ignored. Juan Cordero knows these properties, the local crime statistics, and the law enforcement resources in St. Lucie County. That local knowledge is a real advantage when building a case.
What Victims Can Recover
Victims of crimes on negligently secured properties can recover significant compensation from the property owner.
Medical Expenses
Emergency treatment, surgery, hospitalization, and all future medical care for your injuries.
Lost Wages
Income lost during recovery and reduced earning capacity from permanent injuries.
Pain & Suffering
Physical pain, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and the lasting psychological impact of violent crime.
Emotional Distress
The trauma of being a crime victim on a property that should have been safe.
Wrongful Death
Families who lose a loved one due to negligent security may recover funeral costs, loss of support, and more.
Punitive Damages
When a property owner knowingly ignored prior criminal activity and failed to act, courts may award punitive damages.
How We Prove Negligent Security
Prior Crime History
We research the property's crime history to establish that the owner knew or should have known crime was foreseeable.
CPTED Security Audit
We work with CPTED-certified security experts to evaluate lighting, access control, camera placement, and what measures should have been in place.
Evidence Preservation
We immediately subpoena surveillance footage, incident reports, and security logs before they are deleted.
Maximum Verdict
We have won $28.9M in a single negligent security case and recovered $300M+ overall. We know how to value these cases and fight for every dollar.
Victim of a Crime on Someone's Property? Call Now.
You may have a civil claim against the property owner. Free consultation. No fees unless we win.