The devastating death of 85-year-old Gloria Serge, who was tragically attacked and drowned by a large alligator in Florida, has prompted her family to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the real estate holding and management company, Wynne Building Corporation, which owns and manages the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community where the incident occurred.
Negligence in the Death of Gloria Serge
On February 20, 2023, Gloria Serge was walking her dog, Trooper, at Spanish Lakes Fairways when a 10-foot-long, 700-pound alligator attacked her.
The alligator grabbed her foot, dragged her into a nearby retention pond, disfigured her body, and ultimately caused her drowning.
Witnesses made emergency calls, and authorities recovered Gloria Serge’s body from the water. The alligator responsible was captured and euthanized the next day.
Gloria Serge’s family, represented by Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith PLLC, has filed a lawsuit against Wynne Building Corporation.
The lawsuit alleges negligence, asserting that the company failed to warn residents about the presence of alligators, leading to the tragic death of Gloria Serge. The family is seeking damages of more than $50,000.
Joel Wynne, the president of Wynne Building Corporation, expressed understanding of the tragedy and the family’s grief. He mentioned that Mrs. Serge was a longtime resident who was aware of the presence of alligators.
However, the lawsuit contends that the company did not adequately warn residents about potential dangers and allowed practices that increased the risk of alligator encounters.
Gloria Serge was a beloved mother of five, grandmother of 15, and great-grandmother of nine. A resident of the Spanish Lakes Fairways community for nearly 30 years, she owned a home on the property for 21 years.
The lawsuit emphasizes that she was “encouraged, if not forced,” to walk near the water where alligators were present, a practice that allegedly led to her tragic death.
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Mismanagement Leading to Gloria Serge’s Death
The lawsuit points out that maintenance workers at Spanish Lakes Fairways fed the alligator that attacked Gloria Serge, even naming it Henry.
The property management allegedly knew of multiple nuisance alligators on the premises but failed to warn residents adequately.
The lawsuit contends that Gloria Serge received an eviction warning for walking her dog in non-approved areas, while others were allowed to walk in the same retention pond area without similar warnings.
Gloria Serge’s family is demanding accountability for the preventable tragedy. The lawsuit highlights the absence of warning signs and alleges that property managers actively encouraged residents to be near the lake without adequate precautions, contradicting wildlife experts’ advice.
As Gloria Serge’s family seeks justice through the wrongful death lawsuit, the case underscores the importance of property owners and managers taking proactive measures to protect residents from potential wildlife threats.
The tragedy has left the family grappling with profound loss and serves as a poignant reminder of the need for responsible practices in communities where wildlife interactions are possible.
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