Craigslist Murder: Victim’s Mother May Sue Copley Marriott Hotel for Boston Wrongful Death

According to the Boston Globe, the mother of Julia Brissman, the alleged victim of the man dubbed the Craigslist Killer, is considering filing a Boston wrongful death lawsuit against the Copley Marriott Hotel and a New Hampshire gun shop. Brissman was shot numerous times at the Back Bay hotel in 2009.

Philip Markoff, a Boston University medical student, was arrested on suspicion of being the Craigslist Killer. He was charged with Brissman’s murder. He later committed suicide while in jail and before his case could be tried.

Markoff was dubbed the Craigslist Killer because he allegedly met his victims through ads the women had placed on the popular Web site. The criminal case against Markoff was dropped after his death.

Now, Brissman’s mother, Carmen Guzman says she is frustrated with the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office for not releasing the case against Markoff. Guzman believes that the file could help her make a case for Boston wrongful death against both the Marriot hotel and the State Line Gun Shop where Markoff bought the gun that killed her daughter.

Guzman wants to see if the case files contain evidence that would show whether inadequate security-grounds for Boston premises liability-played a role in her daughter’s murder. She also believes the information could help her and her attorney determine whether the gun shop was negligent in selling the gun to Markoff.

Boston Premises Liability
Hotel and motel owners must make sure that they have adequate security on the premise so that robberies, sexual assault crimes, physical assault crimes, and murders do not happen to visitors or guests. Proper lighting, security cameras, security personnel, safes in the rooms, and locks on doors and windows are some of the ways that property owners can deter robbers, rapists, and murderers.

Mother awaits file on slaying, Boston.com, February 28, 2011
Craigslist Killer’s Suicide Shock, The Daily Beast, August 16, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Craigslist

Copley Marriott Hotel


More Blog Posts:

$6.8 Million Boston Wrongful Death Judgment Awarded Over NU Student’s Fatal Fall Down Bar Stairs, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, February 27, 2011
Revere Man is Fatally Shot in His Apartment Building, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, January 31, 2011
Gloucester Teen Files Lynn Personal Injury Lawsuit Against MBTA Over Elevator Rape, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, August 17, 2010
Our Boston injury lawyers represent clients injured because of crimes committed in hotels, motels, parking lots, shopping malls, buildings, apartment complexes, and other premises.

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