Wednesday, November 7, 2001
George N. Koikos v. Travelers Ins. Co.
No. 01-301
Place of Origin
Leon County
Facts
Koikos owns the Spartan Restaurant where, in April 1997, a Florida A&M University
fraternity held a graduation party. During the party, an intruder shot five people.
Two of them sued Koikos for allegedly failing to provide adequate security. Koikos'
insurance policy with Travelers said it would pay up to $500,000 in liability
per occurrence. Travelers contended that all the shootings were a single "occurrence."
In the subsequent suit by two of the victims, the federal trial judge ruled for
the insurer. Koikos appealed to the Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where
he and the victims argued that there was more than one occurrence. The Circuit
Court certified the question to the Florida Supreme Court.