Florida

Florida Community Fails to Warn of Deadly Gator; Woman's Tragic Death Sparks Lawsuit

2024-01-29
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Gator baitPhoto byDeva DarshanonUnsplash

Disclaimer: This article was written for informational purposes only.

It is common knowledge in Florida - all southern states really, that where there is water, there can be gators. Every community I've lived in had scenic lakes throughout the neighborhood. And, every pond had gator activity to varying degrees.

The rules are basic. Residents informed the community office or security of the new presence. Non-threatening babies usually meant a grown gator wasn't far away.

Professional trappers used humane techniques to relocate aggressive beasts. We stalked the area hoping to catch the moment a large gator would reach up to grab the chicken the experts hung as bait.

Last week, the family of an 85-year-old Florida woman killed by a gator in Spanish Lakes Fairways on Feb. 20, 2023, filed suit against the community owners.

"The presence of large alligators in the lakes on the property was well known to the property manager, and this gator was no exception," Lesser Lesser Landy & Smith PLLC, the law firm representing the Serge family, said in a press release.

"In fact, evidence obtained by our firm will show that maintenance workers in the community routinely fed this alligator chicken scraps and even named the dangerous reptile 'Henry.'"

At 85, Gloria Serge, a beloved mother of 5, grandmother of 15, and great-grandmother of 9, walked her dog, Trooper, through the neighborhood streets. Having lived there for 30 years, she stopped and chatted with other residents.

Then she received a letter from the property manager directing her to walk her dog on her own property or at the community-owned dog run nearly a mile from her home. Gloria started walking Trooper in her backyard, which bordered a community lake.

An alligator measuring more than 10 feet long grabbed onto her left foot and dragged her into the water, drowning her. Her neighbor, Carol Thomas, watched in horror. “It was just very disturbing that there was nothing I could do.”

“I saw her and I saw the gator grab her, and I saw him take her under and I ran out and called 911,” Thomas said. “I asked her to swim toward the paddle boat (nearby) … and she said 'I can't. The gator has me'.”

The neighbor attempted to help with a shepherd's hook. “When I came back, she was no longer visible and never did surface again until a bit later when the cops were here,” Thomas said.

According to the lawsuit, there were “no signs posted around the lake,” but rather the community “encouraged people” to the area by “placing a bench along the shoreline.” They neglected to warn residents of the dangerous alligator, according to Managing Partner Gary S. Lesser.

The Serge family is seeking at least $50,000 in damages from the Wynne Building Corp., owner and operator of Spanish Lakes Fairways.

Joel Wynne, president of Wynne Building Corp., responded.

"We developed Spanish Lakes Fairways 37 years ago. We have approximately 3,000 residents. This is the very first time where a resident was attacked by an Alligator."

"Mrs. Serge was a longtime resident and certainly knew of the presence of alligators and that they were inherently dangerous animals."

Call the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Hotline for assistance. If an alligator measures at least 4 feet long, a trapper will take immediate action to remove the gator from the area.

Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program

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Nuisance Alligator HotlinePhoto byauthor screenshot

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Sources:
USA Today
NBC News
LLL & S Lawfirm
FWC


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