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Berkowitz and Hanna LLC has uncovered an interesting wrongful death lawsuit involving a slain LAX Transportation Security Administration agent whose family is now suing Los Angeles World Airports, the Los Angeles Airport Police, city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, and Los Angeles County.
Gerardo Hernandez, a TSA officer working in Terminal 3 at LAX, was shot to death (and three other people, including two other TSA officers were wounded) when Paul Anthony Ciancia opened fire on Nov. 1, 2013. Hernandez’ widow, Ana Machuca, contends that her husband’s death could have been avoided and accuses LAWA, and airport police, who are in charge of security at LAX, of not keeping airport travelers and employees safe.
The suit alleges that there were not enough police officers around to prevent the gunman from roaming freely throughout the airport and that Hernandez was not provided with timely medical attention after he lay wounded. The suit also claims that “the airport failed to enhance security as recommended by the Santa Monica-based think tank RAND Corp. in 2004 and 2006 and that 911 ‘red phones’ at the airport were ‘outdated and in some instances were not working properly.'”
The case, which was filed by the Hernandez family in state civil court, has been transferred to federal court. Berkowitz and Hanna LLC notes thatHernandez is the first TSA agent to be killed in the line of duty since the agency’s formation after 9/11.
Note: Berkowitz and Hanna LLC did not represent any of the parties in this case.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
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