A harrowing case of assault and negligence has emerged from Harris County, Texas, where a resident is suing his neighbors and property owners for a brutal attack that left him severely injured. The complaint was filed by Luis Miguel Martinez on July 5, 2024, against Alfredo Gayton, 539 Yorkshire Investments LLC, and RVT Inc. dba Flores Properties.
According to the court documents filed in the District Court of Harris County, Luis Miguel Martinez alleges that he was viciously attacked by Alfredo Gayton, Gayton's spouse, and their dog on July 8, 2022. The incident occurred at the apartment complex located at 539 Yorkshire in Houston, Texas—a property owned by the defendants. Martinez claims that while he was merely walking to his apartment, he was suddenly assaulted by Gayton and his accomplices. "Defendant viciously attacked Plaintiff Luis Miguel Martinez," reads the complaint, detailing how the attack resulted in severe injuries and mental anguish for Martinez.
The plaintiff asserts that the property owners—539 Yorkshire Investments LLC and RVT Inc. dba Flores Properties—were negligent in their duties to ensure tenant safety. According to Martinez's filing, these entities had significant control over the premises and were aware of Gayton's criminal behavior but failed to take necessary actions to prevent such incidents. The complaint accuses them of allowing a known criminal to reside on their property without adequate measures to ensure safety.
Martinez is seeking monetary relief ranging from $250,000 to $1 million for medical expenses incurred due to broken bones and other severe injuries sustained during the attack. He also seeks compensation for future medical expenses, physical pain and suffering (both past and future), mental anguish (both past and future), disfigurement, physical impairment, fear of future diseases or conditions, cost of medical monitoring and prevention in the future, attorneys' fees, as well as post-judgment interest.
The lawsuit invokes several legal doctrines including strict liability under Section 402A of the Restatement of Torts (2nd edition) as adopted by Texas law. It argues that the apartment complex owners are strictly liable for failing to confine dangerous tenants like Gayton despite numerous warnings from other tenants about his criminal behavior.
The case has been assigned Case ID: 2024-42785 with Judge Adiliani Solis presiding over it in the 151st Judicial District Court of Harris County. Elizabeth Uribe from Uribe Law Firm PLLC represents Luis Miguel Martinez in this legal battle.