HOUSTON – The defendants in a lawsuit filed as a result of a late 2015 robbery at a north Houston shopping center which claimed the life of a married father of one formally responded to the allegations, according to recent Harris County District Court records.
IMI Investments, Inc. and Aldine Westfield Retail LLC entered their answer into Deana Precella’s suit on Oct. 31.
Precella, who pursued legal action as a representative of the estate of Erasmo Alanis, Jr. and on behalf of her and her late husband’s minor daughter, alleges the respondents owned and operated the shopping center where Alanis lost his life while trying to protect his family from a robber on Sept. 13, 2015.
Her suit states that the 26-year-old Alanis was fatally shot, alleging the defendants were responsible for the management, safety, and security of the premises.
The defendants’ response asserts the decedent failed to use ordinary care for his safety. The six-page document pins the subject incident on third parties over which the businesses insist have no control.
Attorney Michael J. Reviere of the law firm Benckenstein, Norvell & Nathan L.L.P. in Houston is representing the defendants.
Harris County 333rd District Court Case No. 2017-51475