FORT MYERS, Fla. — “You know for someone who loses a spouse that person is a widow, for a child who loses a parent that child is an orphan, there is not a single word in the dictionary to describe a parent who loses a child,” said Joseph R. North, Esq.
Attorney Joseph R. North says the family of Traviasia Blanks and Johnny Jackson want justice after a shooting at The Lani Kai left blanks injured and Jackson dead.
On July 15th, deputies were called to The Lani Kai Resort, after shots rang out roughly around midnight. Investigators say the shooting was a result of a dispute.
North says a grim day, that started as a family outing.
“Johnny and Traviasia were there on the property along with Johnny’s brother Jordan Phillips who worked there, and they were having sort of a family fun day, where Jordan had rented a couple of rooms for family and friends to go and enjoy the facilities,” said Joseph North, Esq.
North tells me, this is not the hotels first run-in with officials
“Over the last 3 years law enforcement has been called to The Lani Kai over 3,100 times,” said North.
“What we’ve now found out is that the Fort Myers Beach City Council has been working on The Lani Kai trying to get them to clean up their act,” said North.
At this time North says, the victim's mother wants to see real change at The Lani Kai.
In a statement she says,
“I hope the lawsuit will make the hotel clean up the place and improve security so that this does not happen to somebody else,” said Thomasina Daniels.
North says the paperwork has been filed in the Lee County court system, and they plan to serve the hotel in a matter of days.
We reached out to The Lani Kai for comment on the lawsuit, but have yet to get a response.
Guests at the resort say it's a tragedy that shouldn't have happened.
“It is an adult type of establishment, people have a good time here, but for something like that to happen that’s a shame,” said Mike Theodore.
“You’re on the property, you’re on private property, you should feel safe,” said Theodore.
