A Florida jury has issued a verdict in the wrongful death case of Lewis Butler totaling $779 million, giving a sweeping legal win led by Attorney Ben Crump. The outcome arrives nearly a year after Butler, a security guard, was fatally shot during an armed robbery at a Havana business described in court documents as an internet café linked to illegal gambling.
According to Crump’s news release, the lawsuit claimed that Fortune MGT 2023 LLC and Manishkumar Patel ran the business without taking reasonable precautions to protect employees or clients. Court documents reveal the theft of a pistol during a previous armed robbery on October 25, 2023. Investigators then discovered that the same gun was used in the event that killed Butler. The complaint also claims that the first robbery was unreported and that the owners and managers were aware of gambling activity at the site.
According to the documents, a lack of reporting and a failure to address known security risks produced conditions that permitted a second heist to take place on November 14, 2023. Butler was shot while attempting to shelter a cashier during the attack and died the next day. Attorneys claimed that the hazards were predictable and preventable, and the jury ultimately agreed.
Following the verdict, Butler’s widow, Kimberly Butler, requested state lawmakers to intervene by closing alleged illegal gambling cafés around Florida. She emphasized that businesses accused of operating outside legal boundaries should not be permitted to jeopardize employees or the public, and she advocated for enhanced oversight to prevent further loss of life.
State Representative Michele Rayner joined the family and Attorney Crump to call for quick legislative reforms. She encouraged lawmakers to support the proposed “Lewis Butler Act,” which aims to address public safety concerns tied to these establishments.
“Lewis Butler is a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect others,” said Crump. “This verdict sends a clear message that businesses cannot ignore security risks, conceal serious crimes, and gamble with human life. The jury’s decision honors Lewis and delivers accountability for a tragedy that never should have happened.”
