Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Leesfield & Partners is representing three victims of a traumatic armed robbery that took place on June 17 at Flamingo Point, a luxury apartment complex in Miami Beach.
The case is being led by Partner Justin B. Shapiro and Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Attorney at the firm. Leesfield & Partners, a personal injury law firm with nearly five decades of experience representing the victims of crimes and negligent security cases, filed the lawsuit against Mr. Lopez, the building’s security company, Flamingo Point and its parent company.
On Tuesday, July 15, at the Leesfield & Partners office on U.S. 1 in Coconut Grove, Jacob Kirstein, Kylee Holland and Gary Burns spoke out to the media regarding the terrifying ordeal.
“That night changed everything for us,” said Jacob Kirstein, who lives at Flamingo Point with his fiancé, Ms. Holland. “We lost our sense of safety not just in the world but in our own home. The physical pain from that night, the cuts, the bruises, the brain trauma — that all heals. But the fear? The emotional distress? It doesn’t go away.”
Gary Burns, who was a guest at the couple’s home the day of the incident, said that the situation felt surreal until he saw the injuries inflicted on Kirstein and “that’s when it sunk in that — OK, I … could die here today.”
“That kind of fear, it doesn’t go away when the police leave, or the sun comes up,” he said. “It stays with you. Nightmares. Anxiety. Constantly feeling on edge and alert, even in my own apartment. Every loud noise, every knock at the door, it brings you back to that moment.”
For Holland, who was the first of the three approached by the armed gunman, anxiety and constant fear has forever changed her daily life.
“No one, absolutely no one, who lives in Flamingo Point should have to experience what we did,” she said. “We are speaking out because this cannot be ignored. This has to be changed.”
What Happened?
Ms. Holland and Mr. Kirstein were hosting a friend, Mr. Burns, at their Flamingo Point apartment to watch the Stanley Cup Final on June 17. While Ms. Holland went to the building’s trash chute to throw away garbage, she encountered a man, later identified as Brian Lopez.
Mr. Lopez was roaming freely throughout the Flamingo Point complex and had committed a crime against at least one other person when he encountered Ms. Holland, held her at gunpoint and forced her to take him back to her apartment. Once there, he ordered all three to the ground and pistol-whipped Mr. Kirstein, causing a severe and painful laceration, concussion and traumatic brain injury.
Mr. Lopez had them transfer money from their bank accounts using their cellphones and was attempting to steal Ms. Holland’s car when he was caught.
In the process of attempting to steal her vehicle, he brought all three of our clients at gunpoint to the downstairs lobby where they had the foresight to begin screaming to attract attention. Mr. Lopez then ran away and was later arrested and charged by local authorities.
This incident not only caused significant physical injuries but also profound emotional and psychological harm to our clients, Mr. Pimentel said.
“Despite the high-end nature of the building, which markets itself as safe and secure, there was a clear failure to implement adequate security measures to prevent such a violent crime,” he said. “Our client trusted the property management and security protocols to provide a safe living space, and that trust was tragically violated.”
About Leesfield & Partners
Leesfield & Partners is a Florida-based personal injury law firm with nearly five decades of experience securing record verdicts and historic settlements for injured clients. The firm has three offices, including Miami, Key West, and Central Florida/Orlando. Started by Ira H. Leesfield in 1976, the firm has become one of the top personal injury law firms in the state and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the leading personal injury law firms in the U.S.
Leesfield & Partners has been routinely recognized by national and local entities including The Best Lawyers in America, Florida Legal Elite, South Florida Legal Guide Top Firm and Top Lawyers, South Florida Business Journal Key Partners Award, and Super Lawyers.
In addition to its legal work, the firm is deeply committed to supporting community initiatives and expanding educational opportunities across Florida. For decades, Ira Leesfield, the firm’s Founder and Managing Partner, has been a passionate advocate for public service and philanthropy, particularly in the Florida Keys. Through his charitable organization, The Leesfield Family Foundation, he has advanced a wide range of causes, with a focus on initiatives that benefit women and children. The Foundation also supports academic scholarships, disaster relief efforts, and programs that promote community enrichment.
