Man, 20, is latest victim in string of shootings at Savannah Gardens Apartments

Could the shooting of Nicolas Ruffin, the latest in a string of shootings at Savannah Gardens, leave the apartment owners to exposed to a civil lawsuit?

A shooting at the Savannah Gardens apartment complex on Friday afternoon left Nicolas Ruffin, 20, severely injured. Ruffin was rushed to the hospital and is expected to survive.

According to the police, the apartment complex is situated in the 500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, near Savannah High School.

A similar gun violence incident occurred only a few days ago, on March 4. This shooting at the same apartment complex resulted in the injury of a teenager and the arrest of another.

The authorities are currently investigating both matters and are asking for individuals with more information to come forward.

Georgia Negligent Security Law

Negligent security is the term used when a property owner or manager fails to take reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of their property. This can result in harm to individuals who are on the property. Some examples of negligent security include insufficient lighting in a parking lot, failure to repair a broken lock on a door, and failure to hire an adequate number of people to monitor the property.

In the state of Georgia, if criminal activity is likely to occur in an apartment complex, property owners are obligated by law to take appropriate security measures. Landlords might have to implement strong security measures to lessen violence in the complex. These might consist of clearly visible security cameras, on-site security guards, a perimeter fence with access-controlled gates, or even a guard station at the parking garage and entrance gate.

A History of Negligence at Savannah Gardens Apartments

There has been a string of recent gun violence associated with the Savannah Gardens apartments. A 2017 homicide at the apartment complex left residents unnerved. In 2021, another shooting left a man serious injured. Then in 2022 another fatal shooting left Ebony Drayton, 29, dead and Anthony Jackson, 27, seriously injured.

Online reviews contains a list of problems that property managers fail to solve and safety issues. “This place gets worse every year,” says one resident. The “staff needs to be more proactive to resident’s needs,” writes another.

Only Crime Victims or Their Relatives Can Demand Justice

Georgia landlords have a clear legal responsibility: prevent foreseeable crimes on their properties. However, too many of them neglect this duty, allowing a dangerous cycle of violence to perpetuate.

Although law enforcement officers have the ability to catch offenders and bring them to justice, they do not have the power to compel property owners to put in place security measures or compensate victims and their families.

When a crime does occur at an apartment complex, only the victim and their loved ones can seek justice by filing a lawsuit against the landlord in civil court. While the compensation awarded in a civil judgment may not fully repair the harm suffered, it can help cover medical expenses and lost wages, and offer some measure of closure.

Surprisingly, the prospect of facing significant financial losses in the wake of a lawsuit may be the very thing that motivates landlords to step up their game and prioritize crime prevention measures. It's worth noting this potential silver lining amidst an otherwise bleak situation.

Together we can Make Georgia Safe, one community at a time.