PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland jury awarded $20 million Monday to the family of a man killed by a security guard at a Lowe’s parking lot, highlighting the legal consequences faced by security personnel and their employers. Freddy Nelson Jr. died in a violent encounter in 2021, which not only led to a second-degree murder conviction for the guard but also a significant civil penalty against the property owners and the security firm involved.
Freddy’s widow, Kari Nelson, had initially sought $25 million in a lawsuit that named the guard, Logan Gimbel, along with property manager TMT Development Corp., property owner Hayden Meadows, and three Cornerstone Security Group representatives, the company for which Gimbel worked. The lawsuit exposed deep flaws in the hiring and operations of the security involved, as well as the responsibility of property management in ensuring safety.
The guard, convicted last year, is serving a life sentence, evidence of a judicial system responding firmly to violent overreaches in private security enforcement. The fracture among defendants was clear during the trial; TMT pointed fingers at Cornerstone and Gimbel, and Cornerstone admitted negligence but blamed TMT for demanding strict patrolling measures.
The jury found that all parties held some blame but varied significantly in their contributions to the tragedy. TMT Development bore the brunt with 80% of the fault, Lowe’s was found 10% liable, and surprisingly, Nelson Jr. himself was assigned 10% of the liability. Notably, both Cornerstone and Gimbel were recognized as being reckless on top of their negligence.
A revealing aspect of this case was the moment of the shooting caught on bodycam footage. The video captured Gimbel aggressively confronting Nelson and his wife as they sat in their pickup truck. The situation escalated rapidly, with Gimbel using pepper spray on Nelson, who attempted to defend himself similarly. The guard then shot Nelson through the truck’s windshield, alleging later he feared being overrun by the vehicle, though evidence suggested otherwise.
This $20 million jury award is divided evenly between Freddy Nelson’s estate and his widow, for non-economic damages, highlighting an effort to remedy the emotional and psychological injuries inflicted by this incident. Further proceedings are set to address the amount of punitive damages due, particularly focusing on TMT and Gimbel’s roles.
The proceedings underscore the critical importance of proper training and licensing for security personnel, as it surfaced that Gimbel was not licensed as an armed security guard at the time of the incident. This case has also thrown a spotlight on the practices of companies when hiring security firms, pushing for a balance between strict security measures and the respectful treatment of individuals on their property.
Legal experts suggest that this case may prompt a review of security protocols and the enforcement of existing regulations around security personnel’s conduct and employment. As cities across the nation grapple with the roles of security guards in public and private spaces, the outcome here in Portland may well prompt a broader discussion on reforming standards and accountability in private security operations.
Kari Nelson’s ordeal from witnessing her husband’s fatal shooting to the subsequent legal battle paints a stark picture of the traumatic ripple effects such incidents cast on families, further emphasizing the need for systemic changes to prevent future tragedies.