The family of Gloria Serge, an 85-year-old woman tragically killed by an alligator in Florida, has filed a lawsuit against her retirement village, Spanish Lakes Fairways, alleging negligence in managing wildlife dangers. Serge was attacked by a 10-foot-long alligator near a retention pond behind her home in Fort Pierce, Florida, in February 2023.
The lawsuit, filed by Serge’s son, Bill Serge, claims the retirement village owned by Wynne Building Corporation knew about the alligator, locally nicknamed “Henry,” yet failed to take necessary measures to ensure residents’ safety. This lack of action, according to the lawsuit, directly led to Serge’s death.
During a news conference, Bill Serge described the painful loss of his mother, emphasizing the preventability of the incident. Attorneys from Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC, representing the Serge family, pointed out that the village’s strict rules against walking dogs on streets forced residents like Gloria Serge to walk their pets near potentially dangerous areas like the pond.
The lawsuit alleges that Spanish Lakes Fairways could have avoided the tragedy through basic precautions such as enforcing wildlife feeding rules or warning residents about the presence of alligators. After the incident, the community reportedly removed three additional alligators, but it’s unclear if they came from the same pond.
CCTV footage of the incident shows the alligator first targeting Serge’s dog before attacking Serge, dragging her into the water. The alligator was later captured and euthanized by a licensed trapper.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) notes that alligator attacks on humans are rare, typically occurring when provoked. However, alligators can become aggressive during mating season or when protecting their nests.
This lawsuit underscores the complex challenges retirement communities face in balancing residents’ safety with wildlife management, especially in areas like Florida, where alligators are a common presence. The Serge family’s legal action has sparked a conversation about the responsibilities of housing developments in ensuring the safety of their residents in wildlife-inhabited areas.