The family of a grandmother who was brutally attacked and killed by an alligator lurking in a pond near her home has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a retirement community that failed to protect residents from the notorious 10-foot-long beast. he claimed. Nicknamed Henry.
Gloria Serge, 85, died on February 20th after her small dog was dragged to her death around the pond behind her home at Spanish Lakes Fairways in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Surveillance camera footage captured the moment the alligator stalked the unsuspecting grandmother, who was then dragged underwater to her death by the 10-foot-tall, 700-pound beast.
Her family filed a lawsuit Thursday morning alleging that Wynn Building Corporation, a retirement community development and management company, is responsible for her death.
“A year ago, I received a phone call that any son would dread,” William Sarge was quoted as saying at a press conference Thursday. WPEC. “I could never imagine how her mother spent the last moments of her life in agony.
“No child should have to bury their mother under such horrific circumstances.
“This was a tragedy that was 100% preventable. So I stand here today on behalf of my mother and share her story in the hope that something like this will never happen again.” My son explained as he was dying.
Serge's family claims that the Wine Building Corporation knew the creature was living on the property and nothing was done to keep residents safe.
“In fact, the neighbors named this alligator Henry. They named him Henry because this alligator was frequently seen on the banks of this detention pond,” said Gary Lesser, the family's attorney.
Lesser claims that residents as well as community workers regularly fed the predator lying around the pond.
“Surprisingly, Spanish Lakes actually didn't post any warnings about the presence of the dangerous alligators they knew about,” Lesser explained.
“There was no warning to residents in the weekly newsletter that Spanish Lakes sent to residents.”
The lawyer said community members claimed the warning signs were only erected after Serge's tragic death.
“That's a little too little, a little too late to save Gloria or bring her back,” Lesser said. “A recent visit to the property revealed that no crocodile warning signs had yet been installed.”
Lesser said Spanish Lakes Fairways “encouraged residents to socialize near the detention pond” despite knowing that alligators were allegedly lurking around the community. , claims to have “installed community benches along the waterfront.”
Even more heartbreaking are allegations that Serge was “forced” to walk his puppy around a pond and was even threatened with eviction due to the community's strict rules.
“Gloria was allowed to walk her dog in the backyard behind her house, by the retention pond,” Lesser explained. “Spanish Lakes is one of those communities that has rules. You can't walk your dog on the streets of the community.”
“In fact, Gloria was given a violation; Eviction warning For walking my little dog in my front yard. ”
Despite the property having no alligator warning signs, CBS12 News reported Friday. Multiple signs were installed to inform local residents that dogs cannot be walked on the road.
WPEC reports that the Serge family is seeking at least $50,000 in damages and plans to take Wine Building Corporation to a jury trial.
After last year's attack, trappers hired by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission captured and killed the alligator.
“It was definitely a fight,” said Robert Lilley, the alligator catcher who was called in to catch the predator.
“[We] Hooked him to the bottom. He never surfaced. He just sat there the whole time,” Lily said.
“We were able to get him a second hook and a hard line, so we were able to get him back on his feet.”
