LOUISIVLLE, KY. (WDRB) -- A second lawsuit has been filed against Richardson Properties, the property management group of the River Breeze Apartments.
The southwest Louisville apartment complex was the location of multiple attacks during the summer of 2023.
On Aug. 24 of last year, Louisville Metro Police notified the public about six assaults. LMPD said a suspect was robbing women with a handgun for several weeks. The suspect was targeting women in and around apartment complexes, lurking in areas for hours looking for a victim.
The attacks happened three times at the River Breeze Apartments, twice at Moss Creek Apartments, and once at the Finish Line Apartments, according to LMPD.
All of the victims were physically hurt and or robbed. One was sexually assaulted.
The latest lawsuit involves the victim that was sexually assaulted. Because of the nature of the case, WDRB will not identify the victim.
The lawsuit was filed by David Barber, an attorney at Thomas Law Offices.
Barber's count includes seven attacks, four at River Breeze Apartments.
Both lawsuits claim Richardson Properties did not act responsibly in notifying and protecting its tenants from the attacks.
"You're making money by selling people a place to live, you got to sell them a safe place to live," said Barber. "All they had to do was be decent to their neighbors, really, you know, give them the information that there's this danger out there."
The newest lawsuit claims the victim, "was brutally attacked, beaten, kidnapped, robbed, and sexually assaulted at gunpoint by a man matching the description of the same perpetrator of the prior crimes on the premises.”
At least one attack happened at River Breeze Apartments prior to the victim's attack, according to the lawsuit.
It also points out that the apartment's central office is equipped with office, cameras, remote entry, but did not provide the same level of security measures to its tenants.
"They didn't warn people when, when that could have saved somebody from this permanent injury," Barber said.
Although the attacks have happened one year prior, it has left several tenants shaken up, as LMPD has not arrested a man connected to the attacks.
"I look out for my neighbors here... protect yourself as much as possible," said one resident. "I wish they could catch him, that's all I can say. Just please catch him."
Richardson Properties has not yet responded to WDRB's request for comment.
The other lawsuit filed by Barber on June 20th is on behalf of Hannah Harshfield who was severely beaten outside her apartment, which has ongoing medical care and dental surgeries.
LMPD said the description of the suspect and use of a handgun in each case is similar, and that assaults were reported as far back as June 2023.
Christopher Thompson, 22, was arrested in January and charged with robbing and sexually assaulting a woman on Yazoo Street, near Valley Station and the Pleasure Ridge Park neighborhood, last July. Police have not connected him with the other assaults in the area.
Anyone with information in any case is asked to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at (502) 574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online through the Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.
Previous Coverage:
- Lawsuit alleges Louisville property management company didn't warn residents after woman assaulted
- Police still searching for suspected serial robber targeting women in southwest Louisville
- Police release new images of suspected serial robber targeting women in southwest Louisville
- IMAGES | Louisville police release surveillance footage of suspect in serial robbery investigation
- String of assaults in Louisville has women looking for ways to protect themselves
- Louisville Police warn public after suspect in string of serial robberies targets another victim
- Police say robberies of women in southwest Louisville becoming more frequent and violent
- 'Be vigilant' | Police issue warning about 'alarming assaults' on women in southwest Louisville
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