Tampa Tribune

September 1, 1989

      Tampa - When a 34 year-old Tampa women was raped in 1987 by an intruder who crept through her ground -floor bedroom window, she blamed her landlord for failing to protect her.

       A jury agreed Thursday and awarded the woman $500,000.

      Her attorneys hailed the verdict as a victory for victim's rights.

      "We can't undo what has been done to this victim, but hopefully the verdict will prevent other women form becoming victims," said Steven Yerrid. "This serves notice to landlords that while crime can't be prevented, it can be deterred."

      The jury ordered E.G. Goldsmith, owner of the Palm Grove apartment complex at 212 S. Church St., to pay the women $350,000 in compensatory damages and $150,00 in punitive damages.

      The victim testified that she had repeatedly complained that the locks were faulty and that the area behind her apartment was unlit. She said the manager refused to replace the window locks and said it was not economical to light the area behind the apartments.

      The apartment manager testified that he had fixed the women's locks and that they were working on the night of the rape.

      Another women had been raped at the complex a year earlier.

      Emory Wood, Goldsmith's attorney, argued there was no way his client could have anticipated the rape. He said Goldsmith provided adequate security and could not be held accountable for the actions of a criminal.

      "We are disappointed with the final result and feel strongly that there is no basis for the awarding of punitive damages," he said. "If necessary, we will follow through with an appeal."

05/10/80