Apartment Crime Attorney in Atlanta

The amount of crime that we are seeing in Atlanta now is appalling. We do not have enough police officers available in the City of Atlanta to stop or even decrease the number of violent crimes, particularly car break-ins that the City of Atlanta and Buckhead are experiencing. If there is a solution to the current crime problem, it is going to be with property owners and management companies taking responsibility for the safety of patrons and residents. Property owners and management companies need to be held accountable for crimes that are committed on their premises that were foreseeable due to their negligence.

Many of these violent crimes are completely predictable. We see apartment complexes that have crimes occurring repeatedly because of the failure of the apartment complex to repair gates and entrances to parking decks, for example.

Punitive damages may be awarded in tort actions in which clear and convincing evidence proves that a defendant’s actions showed willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or that entire want of care which would raise the presumption of conscious indifference to consequences. A conscious indifference to consequences relates to an intentional disregard of the rights of another. Wilful and intentional misconduct is not essential.

Further, employers or principals may be vicariously liable for punitive damages arising from the acts or omissions of their employees or agents if such tortious conduct is committed in the course of the employer’s or principal’s business, within the scope of the servant’s or agent’s employment, and is sufficient to authorize a recovery of punitive damages under OCGA § 51–12–5.1.

Miller v. City Views at Rosa Burney Park GP, LLC, 323 Ga. App. 590, 597, 746 S.E.2d 710, 715 (2013), aff’d but criticized sub nom. Ambling Mgmt. Co., LLC v. Miller, 295 Ga. 758, 764 S.E.2d 127 (2014)

Sessions & Fleischman Can Help

Dealing with a crime at your own home that affects your own property can be incredibly nerve-wracking and frustrating. Don’t go through these moments alone and make sure you have the protection you need and deserve. The experienced apartment crime lawyers at Sessions & Fleischman are here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation.