Over a year-and-a-half after the mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart, victims and family members are still fighting for the release of Walmart’s surveillance footage and autopsy records for those that were killed in the horrific incident. Patrick Crusius presently faces multiple counts of various crimes for the mass shooting that occurred on August 3, 2019 that claimed the lives of 23 victims and injured over two dozen others.
According to court documents filed by lawyers for two of the victims, Plaintiffs seek clarification of a protective order that was previously signed by the judge presiding over Crusius’ federal criminal proceeding. Since the order was put into place, judges presiding over civil lawsuits filed against both Crusius and Walmart, have stated that the protective order filed in the criminal case may not apply to Walmart or the medical examiner’s office, who continue to withhold the surveillance footage and victims’ autopsy records. Lawyers for the victims’ families and some civil judges agree that the order appears to only bar the release of documents by state and federal prosecutors and defense lawyers in the criminal case but would not necessarily prohibit Walmart or the medical examiner’s office from releasing records to the lawyers and victims in the civil lawsuits filed for the mass shooting.
Since the shooting, several civil lawsuits have been filed against the assailant and Walmart. According to many lawsuits, victims allege that Walmart failed to take reasonable and necessary measures to protect its customers. Businesses that own and control real estate have several duties to ensure that reasonable measures are taken to protect their patrons and visitors against acts of criminal violence by others. This is all the more important in a time when Americans have witnessed a surge in gun-related violence in public spaces.
If you or a loved one has been injured, killed, or impacted due to criminal violence that occurred on someone else’s property, call Abraham Watkins today. It is imperative that you find a law firm to manage your claim as soon as possible following an incident of this nature. Further, it is important to find a skilled law firm with experience handling these cases to ensure that companies are held fully accountable. The law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner is the oldest personal injury firm in Texas, and our attorneys are standing by to assist with your claim. Call us today at 713-396-3964 or 800-594-4884“>1-800-594-4884 for your free consultation.