“Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Retirement Community After Grandmother Killed by Alligator”

Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Retirement Community After Grandmother Killed by Alligator

In a shocking and tragic incident, an 85-year-old grandmother, Gloria Serge, was killed by an alligator in a pond near her home at the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida. The incident occurred on February 20, 2023, when Gloria was trying to protect her small dog from being attacked by the 10-foot predator, affectionately nicknamed Henry. Now, Gloria’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the retirement community, alleging that they failed to take necessary action to protect residents from the known presence of the alligator.

The heart-wrenching incident has left Gloria’s family devastated. William Serge, Gloria’s son, spoke at a news conference about the agonizing way his mother spent her last moments. He expressed his grief and emphasized that this tragedy could have been prevented. William said during the conference, “This was a tragedy that was 100% preventable, so I stand here today on behalf of my mom to share her story in the hope that this will never happen again.”

The family’s attorney, Gary Lesser, claims that the Wynne Building Corporation, the developer and manager of the retirement community, was aware of the alligator’s presence on the property but took no action to ensure residents’ safety. In fact, the neighborhood had even named the alligator Henry because it was frequently seen on the shores of the retention pond. Lesser further alleges that residents and staff at the community regularly fed the predator, which was often spotted near the pond.

What adds to the tragedy is the claim that Spanish Lakes Fairways encouraged residents to socialize by the pond by placing benches along its shores. Despite knowing about the alligator’s presence, they failed to provide any warnings to residents or include them in their weekly newsletters. It was only after Gloria’s death that warning signs were being constructed, too late to save her.

To make matters worse, Gloria was allegedly forced to walk her dog around the pond and even received an eviction warning for walking her small dog in the front yard of her house. The community’s strict rules restricted residents from walking their dogs on the streets, leaving them with no choice but to navigate the potentially dangerous areas.

The Spanish Lakes Fairways community is owned and managed by the Wynne Building Corporation. The Serge family is seeking damages of at least $50,000 and plans to take the corporation to a jury trial. Meanwhile, a trapper hired by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has captured and killed the alligator responsible for Gloria’s death.

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures and proper precautions in residential communities. It is a stark call for accountability from property managers to ensure the well-being of their residents. The loss of Gloria Serge has left her family shattered, but they hope that their lawsuit will prevent such a tragedy from happening again and bring justice for their beloved grandmother.