Newspaper carrier who got trapped in Broward condo elevator awarded $5.6 million

A newspaper carrier who spent more than three hours trapped alone inside a luxury condominium elevator in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea was awarded more than $5.6 million, according to Schlesinger Law Offices.

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A Broward County jury returned a verdict on Friday in favor of Mardy Valeria, who suffered a medical emergency after security guards didn’t realize she was missing, Schlesinger Law Offices said in a statement Tuesday. Despite the jury award, the case had been settled before the jury began deliberations.

The incident happened on March 22, 2023, at the Hampton Beach Club Condominium, which employed Marksman Security Corporation, the statement said.

Valeria greeted security guards, signed a visitor log and left her large blue newspaper bag on a bench directly in front of the security desk. It was a routine newspaper delivery, which should have lasted only a few minutes, the statement said.

However, the elevator broke down on the eighth floor, trapping Valeria inside. The emergency telephone and the elevator’s security camera weren’t working, and the trial evidence showed that Marksman Security Corporation knew the camera was out of service, the statement said.

The building’s assigned desk guard went on an unauthorized 95-minute break, and no one went looking for Valeria for more than three hours, the statement said. Authorities were eventually called, and Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue rescued her from the elevator.

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“No one should enter a building, greet the security guards, and then disappear for more than three hours without anyone noticing,” attorney Jonathan Gdanski said in the statement. “The jury recognized that what happened to Ms. Mardy was entirely preventable.”

She was taken to Holy Cross Hospital after suffering a high-blood pressure emergency, the statement said. Medical evidence revealed the entrapment caused a stroke, leaving her with difficulty walking and permanent physical limitations. She also has post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from the incident.

Valeria, who was 62 years old at the time of the incident, was awarded damages for future medical care, lost earning capacity and pain and suffering. Jurors found Marksman Security Corporation negligent and assigned the company 60% of the responsibility for Valeria’s injuries. But the case was settled before deliberations, attorney Jaime Baca, who represents Marksman Security Corporation, said.

“Even though the jury deliberated the agreement is subject to a confidentiality,” Baca said. “As such I have no comment.”

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