17-07-2025
Former state senator and family receive $100 million for son's wrongful death
A Miami-Dade County jury awarded former state Sen. Daphne Campbell and her family $100 million this week for the wrongful death of her son.
Jason Campbell, 23, was killed in 2021 when he was shot while in bed by his girlfriend's estranged lover, according to state prosecutors. The following year, Daphne Campbell, a Democratic former elected official who served the North Miami area in the Florida Legislature for eight years, sued the Biscayne Gardens condo complex where he was slain for failing to provide proper security.
After years of litigation, the jury on Tuesday found four parties at fault in Jason Campbell's wrongful death — Monte Carlo Condominium Association, property manager AKAM On-Site Inc., the private security company EMS Protective Group and the tenant of the condo.
'Losing our beloved son Jason has caused us unspeakable pain that we would not wish on anyone,' said Daphne Campbell and her husband, Hubert Campbell, in a news release. 'This verdict will never bring our son back, but we hope it sends a strong message to all property managers and owners and compels them to provide adequate security before another family suffers like ours has.'
Jury members distributed the majority of the blame to the property manager, finding the company 57% at fault. The jury found the condo complex and private security group 18% at fault each, and the tenant was found 7% at fault.
The $100 million will be distributed to Daphne Campbell, her husband and her son's three children, unless the ruling is appealed. She and her husband will receive $25 million each for pain and suffering. The remaining $50 million will be split among Jason Campbell's children for the loss of a parent.
What Happened
According to court documents, Jason Campbell was killed by Lakoria Washington, his girlfriend's former lover.
On June 1, 2021, Washington walked past the guard post on the Monte Carlo Condominium property and through the front gates while armed, without being stopped or questioned by the complex's employees, according to court documents.
She took an elevator to her ex-girlfriend's apartment, knocked and then pushed past the ex-girlfriend, who opened the door. Washington then shot Jason Campbell in the chest while he was resting and then fled. He left the apartment to seek help before collapsing in the parking lot.
Court documents state that, several months before shooting Jason Campbell, an armed Washington got onto the property and shot out the windows of the car owned by a different man staying with her ex-girlfriend. She was not stopped that time by the complex's employees, either, court records say.
Court and state criminal records show that Washington pleaded guilty this month in Jason Campbell's murder. She is currently being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County.
