Seeking Civil Justice, Dan Newlin Steps Up for Danielle Sampson

Prominent Orlando attorney Dan Newlin announced today that he has filed a civil lawsuit against shooter Tyrone Mosby, the teenager responsible for leaving now 16-year-old Danielle Sampson with severe brain injury.

Danielle was shot in the head when she was caught in the cross fire of a hail of bullets one year ago, as she rode along in the backseat of the family’s minivan. Last March, an Orange County jury convicted Mosby for the nearly fatal shooting of Danielle.

“We have filed a lawsuit against Tyrone Mosby for the damages and injuries that were caused by Danielle’s wrongful shooting that occurred on July 29, last year,” said Newlin, who was joined at Wednesday’s press conference by Danielle’s mother, Alma Fletcher. “And we will bring this lawsuit in hopes that Mrs. Fletcher and her daughter can recover civil damages that have been caused by this terrible, horrific incident done by Mr. Mosby.”

While declining to give an indication of the size of the civil lawsuit, Newlin said it is his hope that Mosby will have a judgement against him for the rest of his life and never be able to profit in any way off of his wrong doing.

“We know that Mr. Mosby will likely get out of jail at some point during his life time,” he said. “And the only way Danielle and her family will receive any civil justice or any monetary compensation for what Mr. Mosby caused, which is horrific, is to bring a civil case.”

Newlin likened the civil suit to one he filed for the family of Orlando Police Officer Alfred Gordon, who was gunned down while off duty nearly six years ago, and in which an Orange County jury returned a $24 million dollar verdict to his survivors and estate.

“In this case we are going to look at every potential avenue for this [Fletcher] family. We are going to look at where the gun came from, we are going to look at the location of the shooting, we are going to look under every rock and find out every bit of evidence we can use to help the family with any type of monetary recovery,” he added.

Alma Fletcher described Danielle’s recovery as taking place in small steps. “Compared to last year, she is doing better, although she has a long way to go to recovery,” she said.

While she has forgiven Mosby, she also believes that he needs to pay for what he has done.  Asked what would she consider adequate monetary compensation, Fletcher said, “I can’t put a price on my daughter’s life. I just need him to pay for the crime he committed.”

“Danielle was an able-bodied child, full of life, who wanted to be a neurosurgeon and who at age 15 years started writing four books,” she said. “She had plans to open her own practice at 37.”

“Danielle was a very brilliant, fun-loving and sociable girl. She loved basketball with all her heart and she could write a 500 word essay in 10 minutes,” Fletcher continued. “She can’t do any of these things and it’s very sad to see her just look at the wall, at her mentors and bite her lips until they bleed.”

Newlin said that Danielle’s condition closely resembles the case of Terri Schiavo who collapsed in her St. Petersburg, Florida home in 1990 and suffered massive brain damage due to lack of oxygen and after two and a half months in a coma, was diagnosed to be in a vegetative state.

“A mother and child have a very special relationship and thankfully Mrs. Fletcher believes she is able to communicate with Danielle during this time,” he said. “But other than that Danielle has no life, she doesn’t talk and uses a feeding tube to eat. We hope she develops and continues to get a little bit better. But as it stands right now Danielle’s condition has not improved dramatically.”

“No amount of money will ever make up for the damages that have been caused by Mosby, but I will be asking the court to garnish any wages he might earn once out of jail and to return a verdict for the damages for everything that Danielle has gone through,” Newlin concluded.

Newlin was joined at today’s press conference by attorneys, Jarian Lyons and Dutch Anderson of the Law Offices of Dan Newlin and Partners.