A man whose mother and infant daughter were killed in a King of Prussia apartment complex has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the apartment complex, its owners, and the person accused of the killings. Venkata Venna is claiming reckless and careless conduct and negligence. He believes the complex managers and owners should be liable for premises liability because, he says, they did not provide proper security on the premises.
Venkata’s 10-month-old daughter Saanvi and his 61-year-old mother Satyavathi Venna were killed after the child was allegedly abducted by Raghunandan Yandamuri, who is accused of kidnapping the girl to extort money to pay off his gambling debt. NBC Philadelphia reports that Yandamuri is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, abusing a corpse, kidnapping, and other offenses in this matter.
According to police, the 27-year-old admitted to accidentally slitting the older woman’s throat and putting a handkerchief in the infant’s mouth. Yandamuri’s lawyer, however, contends that his client was coerced into issuing a confession.
In his wrongful death lawsuit, Venkata names Yandamuri, Boston-headquarter complex operator owners Marquis LP, JEG Associates LP, and Metropolitan Properties of America, and security provider U.S. Security Associates as the defendants. He says that the complex owners/managers and the security company did not provide proper surveillance, keep up safe premises, or succeed in protecting tenants from danger. Venkata notes that the security cameras were either not repaired or inoperable. He says that Yandamuri entered one of the buildings through a side fire door that was unlocked and open.
Inadequate Security
Apartment managers must make sure their properties are safe. They are responsible for taking the proper steps to prevent crimes, including sexual assault, assault and battery, murder, rape, and robbery, from happening on their premises.
Safety measures may include installing working surveillance cameras, employing security guards, ensuring that side entrances, front doors, and main entrances are properly locked and monitored, maintaining adequate lighting in parking lots, hallways, and around the premises, providing proper locks on windows and doors, and warning tenants about dangers or recent rises in crime. When failure to provide proper security results in injury or death to a patron, tenant, visitor, or resident, the victim may be able to sue for Massachusetts premises liability damages, including Boston inadequate security.
Man sues in kidnap deaths of mother, daughter, Philly.com, December 5, 2013
Lawsuit Filed Against Apt. Complex Where Double Murder Took Place, NBC10, December 3, 2013
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