Case Background
This case centered on a violent incident that took place on November 15, 2020, at a Taco Bell restaurant in Hartford, Connecticut. Samuel Martinez, Victor Arroyo, and Doris Arroyo Khem (on behalf of a minor) filed a lawsuit against G.F. Enterprise LLC, the owner and operator of the restaurant, as well as managers Keyla Singh and Narsha Wood. The legal action followed a shooting on the restaurant premises carried out by a Taco Bell employee, Armando Perez. The Plaintiffs alleged that the restaurant owners and management were negligent in their hiring, supervision, and retention of Perez, who had a known history of violence and criminal gang affiliation.
Cause
The primary cause of action was negligence and a failure of the Defendants to provide a safe environment for customers. According to the legal complaint, Armando Perez had engaged in a verbal altercation with Samuel Martinez inside the restaurant around noon on the day of the incident, during which he threatened Martinez with violence in the presence of manager Keyla Singh. Despite this threat, Perez remained on duty. Later that evening, at approximately 5:00 p.m., a second altercation occurred in the parking lot, where Perez shot both Samuel Martinez and Victor Arroyo. The Plaintiffs argued that the Defendants had failed to conduct a proper background check and had ignored Perez’s history of violent crimes, including prior convictions for assault and possession of a weapon in a correctional institution.
Injury
The shooting caused significant physical and psychological trauma to the victims. Samuel Martinez suffered gunshot wounds to his right arm and right knee, resulting in permanent scarring, pain, and loss of function. Victor Arroyo sustained a gunshot wound to his right foot, which caused a comminuted calcaneus fracture, leading to ongoing pain and functional impairment. Beyond the physical injuries, the Plaintiffs reported suffering from post-traumatic stress, a constant fear for their lives, and the need for extensive future medical care and surgeries.
Damages Sought
The Plaintiffs sought compensation for several types of losses resulting from the shooting. They demanded economic damages to cover their medical expenses, both those already incurred and those expected in the future, as well as lost wages and time from work. Additionally, they sought noneconomic damages for their physical and mental pain and suffering, the loss of ability to enjoy life’s usual activities, and the permanent nature of their physical impairments and scarring.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Samuel Martinez | Victor Arroyo | Doris Arroyo Khem.
Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Christopher J. Flood
Experts for Plaintiff(s): Kevin Shea | Jeremiah Johnson | Asim Nisar | Daniel Witmer | Jared Potts | Nicholas A Bontempo | John J Obrien | Gem A Martin | Arjuna P. Mannam | Pamela Glines | Gabriel Gambardella | William Glucksman | Jonathan Getz | Frederick Comrie | David Levenberg | Demara Bennett
Defendant(s): G.F. Enterprise LLC | Keyla Singh | Narsha Wood.
Counsel for Defendant(s): Mark J. Claflin
Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel
The Plaintiffs’ legal team argued that the Defendants had been grossly negligent by hiring a person with such a dangerous criminal profile and allowing him to remain employed even after he threatened a customer. They highlighted that Perez had brought weapons to work previously and that management was aware of his gang ties. On the other hand, the defense counsel argued that the actions of Armando Perez were outside the scope of his employment and that the restaurant could not be held responsible for his spontaneous criminal acts. They also filed special defenses claiming that the Plaintiffs’ own negligence or the actions of third parties might have contributed to the injuries.
Claims
The legal claims were organized into multiple counts, each focusing on the liability of the different Defendants toward the individual Plaintiffs. The Plaintiffs claimed that G.F. Enterprise LLC was directly responsible for the negligent hiring and supervision of Perez. They also claimed that managers Keyla Singh and Narsha Wood were negligent in their failure to properly manage the employee and protect the customers after the initial threats were made earlier in the day.
Defense
The Defendants denied the majority of the allegations in their formal answers to the complaint. They specifically denied that Perez was acting within the scope of his employment at the time of the shooting. Furthermore, the defense asserted that they did not have sufficient information regarding Perez's specific criminal history or gang affiliations at the time of hiring. They raised special defenses suggesting that the damages were the result of intervening causes or the comparative negligence of the Plaintiffs themselves.
Jury Verdict
The jury reached its decision on March 25, 2026, finding in favor of the Plaintiffs and against all three Defendants: G.F. Enterprise LLC, Keyla Singh, and Narsha Wood.
Verdict for Samuel Martinez The jury found the Defendants 90% liable for the incident, while assigning 10% of the responsibility to Martinez. The total damages awarded were as follows:
Total Economic Damages: $183,530
Total Noneconomic Damages: $2,500,000
Total Combined Damages: $2,683,530
Final Award (after 10% reduction): $2,415,177
Verdict for Victor Arroyo The jury also found in favor of Victor Arroyo against all three Defendants. His award included:
Total Economic Damages: $112,578
Total Noneconomic Damages: $2,500,000
Total Combined Damages: $2,612,578
Verdict for Doris Arroyo Khem
A verdict was also returned in favor of Doris Arroyo Khem, awarding her the following:
Total Economic Damages: $51,600
Total Noneconomic Damages: $650,000
Total Combined Damages: $701,600
