Jury awards $20M to family of man shot by security guard in Portland parking lot

A jury in Portland has awarded $20 million to the family of Freddy Nelson Jr. , who was shot and killed by security guard Logan Gimbel in a Lowe's parking lot in 2021. The tragic incident occurred during a confrontation that escalated quickly, leading to Nelson's death. Gimbel was previously convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. In the civil trial, Nelson's widow, Kari Nelson, sued multiple parties, including the property management and security firms involved.

The jury determined that TMT Development Corp. was 80% responsible for the negligence, while Lowe's and Nelson were each deemed 10% responsible. The verdict included $10 million in non-economic damages awarded to Nelson's estate and another $10 million to his widow. The case has garnered attention due to the implications it holds for security practices in public spaces and the responsibilities of property owners. As proceedings continue, the question of punitive damages for Cornerstone and Gimbel will also be addressed.