* A Florida jury has issued a verdict topping $779 million in the wrongful death case of Lewis Butler, delivering a sweeping legal win led by Attorney Ben Crump. The outcome arrives nearly a year after Butler, who served as a security guard, was fatally shot during an armed robbery at a Havana business described in court documents as an internet café tied to allegations of illegal gambling.
Per Crump’s news release, the lawsuit alleged that Fortune MGT 2023 LLC and Manishkumar Patel operated the establishment without taking reasonable steps to protect workers or customers. Court filings state that an earlier armed robbery occurred on Oct. 25, 2023, during which a firearm was stolen. Investigators later found that the same gun was used in the incident that resulted in Butler’s death. The complaint also asserts that the first robbery went unreported and that the owners and managers were aware that gambling activity was occurring at the site.
According to the filings, the lack of reporting and a failure to correct known security hazards created conditions that allowed a second robbery to unfold on Nov. 14, 2023. Butler was shot while trying to shield a cashier during the attack and died the following day. Attorneys argued that the risks were foreseeable and preventable, and the jury ultimately agreed.
Following the verdict, Butler’s widow, Kimberly Butler, urged state lawmakers to intervene by shutting down alleged illegal gambling cafés across Florida. She emphasized that businesses accused of operating outside legal boundaries should not be permitted to jeopardize employees or the public and called for enhanced oversight to avoid more loss of life.
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State Representative Michele Rayner appeared alongside the family and Attorney Crump to advocate for immediate legislative reforms. She encouraged lawmakers to support the proposed “Lewis Butler Act,” designed to address public safety concerns tied to these establishments.
“Lewis Butler is a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others,” said Crump. “This verdict sends a clear message that businesses cannot ignore security risks, conceal serious crimes, and gamble with human life. The jury’s decision honors Lewis and delivers accountability for a tragedy that never should have happened.”
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