Lauren Stone - Vernis & Bowling

Lauren Stone, Esq.
Vernis & Bowling of Broward, P.A. 5821 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, FL 33021
Phone: (954) 927-5330
Email: LStone@Florida-Law.com
Fax: (954) 927-5320
Website: www.national-law.com
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Verdicts and Dispositions

Sebastian Mccall, Jr. v. School Board of Broward County
Thomas W. Paradise and Lauren Stone (Hollywood, FL) (Appeal/Governmental Law) obtained Final Summary Judgment in the Fourth District Court of Appeal.

Plaintiff, Sebastian McCall, was a 20-year-old spectator who attended a basketball game at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida on January 12, 2013. The basketball game was against Deerfield Beach High School, which the Plaintiff alleged was a rivalry game. At the conclusion of the basketball game, while McCall was walking on the sidewalk while leaving campus, an altercation broke out and a crowd of 50-60 people, who were ahead of him and who had already exited the school’s campus, suddenly turned and began to run back onto campus. While trying to run with the crowd, the Plaintiff fell causing him to sustain severe personal injuries. As a result of the incident, the Plaintiff brought a negligence action against the School Board of Broward County, Florida under a theory of negligent security. As a result of the incident, the Plaintiff suffered a right shoulder dislocation and a fracture to his right hip.

The Plaintiff alleged that the school breached its duty of care to the Plaintiff to provide a reasonably safe environment within the bounds of the school by failing to have adequate security and crowd control as this particular game against Deerfield Beach High School was “a long standing and hotly contested rivalry.” More specifically, the Plaintiff alleged that the school should have had more police officers present at the subject basketball game. The School Board of Broward County argued that it had a security plan in place for every game, which included the school’s security team and police officers. In particular, the evidence showed that a meeting was held prior to the basketball season to develop a security plan for each home game, which included the number of police officers present at each game. As such, the School Board further argued that Plaintiff’s claim was barred by sovereign immunity pursuant to Fla. Statute §768.28 as discretionary/planning level functions of the government are immune from suit and that the waiver of sovereign immunity only applies to operational level functions. The School Board argued that the Plaintiff did not establish any evidence that the School Board failed in its operation of its security on the date of loss.

The School Board filed a Motion for Summary Judgment based on sovereign immunity as the Plaintiff’s claim that the School Board should have had more police officers present at the basketball game was a planning level decision. The trial court entered an order denying the motion holding that the School Board’s decision as to security was operational. The School Board appealed the trial court’s order.

The Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s ruling denying the School Board’s Motion for Summary Judgment as it was determined that the School Board was entitled to sovereign immunity and that Final Summary Judgment should be entered in favor of the School Board of Broward County.
Plaintiff v Broward County School Board
Tom Paradise and Lauren Stone (Broward/Ft. Lauderdale, FL) (Negligent Supervision) obtained a defense verdict in favor of the Broward County School Board. Plaintiff was a student at Blanche Ely High School when she was attacked by a group of students in December 2007. As a result of the incident, Plaintiff brought an action against the School Board of Broward County, Florida, under a theory of negligent supervision and against the individual students for assault and battery. A default judgment was entered against the students for their failure to respond to Plaintiff’s Complaint. As a result of the incident Plaintiff suffered multiple hematomas and contusions to her facial and torso area as well as alleged loss of vision. Plaintiff was also diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Plaintiff utilized three experts to establish damages. During cross examination it was pointed out to the jury that Plaintiff’s PTSD symptoms were questionable and, given that the Plaintiff experienced other traumatic episodes in her life, Dr. Tarafdar could not distinguish the subject event being the potential cause of the alleged PTSD over another. Plaintiff also retained a vocational rehabilitation consultant, Ira Morris, who opined that as a result of the attack Plaintiff had a loss of future earning capacity. Mr. Morris testified that Plaintiff’s economic damages totaled $95,000. Roderick Moe, Plaintiff’s third retained expert, is an economist who testified that the present value of Plaintiff’s economic damages totaled $140,000. Plaintiff’s counsel requested $280,000 for all damages.

The jury returned a verdict in favor of the School Board of Broward County, Florida, finding that they were not negligent. The jury awarded $6,910 for loss of personal property and past medical expenses against the defaulted perpetrators. The School Board has a motion pending for attorney’s fees and costs from an expired Proposal of Settlement.
UPS v Defendant (a QBE insured)
Tom Paradise, Lauren Stone and Nicolette John (Broward/Ft. Lauderdale, FL) (Litigation) prevailed on a motion for summary judgment on a contractual indemnification issue. Plaintiff UPS filed an action indicating they were entitled to approximately $235,000.00 ($105,000.00 was for attorney’s fees and costs) from our client, a QBE insured. The plaintiff filed a motion for summary judgment and defense responded in kind. Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgement was denied, but that of the defense was granted. After Final Judgment is entered, we will seek attorney’s fees and costs.

Areas Of Practice

Automobile Liability (PIP/PD/BI/UM)
Government Law
Negligent Security
Premises Liability
Product Liability
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Liability
Wrongful Death

Bar & Court Admission

Florida Bar
All Florida State Courts
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Education

Graduate:
Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, J.D., 2010
Undergraduate:
University of Central Florida, B.A. Political Science, 2006

Lauren Stone was born in New York and grew up in Coral Springs, Florida. In 2006, she graduated from the University of Central Florida in Orlando with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Psychology. She later attended Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and earned her Juris Doctorate in 2010. During law school, Lauren was an Articles Editor for the Nova Law Review and was recognized by the Pro Bono Honor Society for exemplary service within the legal community. Lauren also interned at Nova Southeastern University’s Children & Families Clinic as a Certified Legal Intern.

Since being admitted to the Florida Bar in 2010, Lauren has dedicated her practice to representing insurance companies, corporations, and governmental entities in civil litigation matters. Since joining Vernis & Bowling in 2011, Lauren has focused on defending clients in the area of insurance defense litigation, including automobile liability, negligent security, premises liability, products liability, wrongful death and governmental tort liability. Lauren practices before all Florida State Courts as well as the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

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