Neighborly disputes are not uncommon, but what is uncommon is for them to turn fatal. Unfortunately for one Southeast Portland man, voicing his concern regarding a speeding neighbor ultimately ended his life.
A few days before his death, Dean Anthony Kuntz visited the Landis residence and spoke to the wife about her husband’s speeding in the neighborhood. According to the lawsuit, he was concerned that children may get hurt by Landis’ reckless driving.
On June 28, Jon Landis confronted Kuntz at Kuntz’s residence. Kuntz’s daughter states that her father stepped outside and the two men began to argue. Kuntz asked Landis to leave the property and Landis, after taking a few steps towards the road, turned and fatally shot her father twice in the chest.
Estate Seeking $2 Million in Damages
The wrongful death lawsuit filed by Kuntz’s estate is now seeking $2 million in noneconomic damages as well as an undetermined amount to cover the loss of Kuntz’s income, funeral and all related costs. The suit states that Kuntz’s death was the result of Landis’ reckless conduct and his failure to control his “angry impulses”.
It also highlights the fact that Landis chose to arm himself with a gun.
The lawsuit also contends that Landis’ wife was negligent for the following reasons:
- She failed to keep her husband from arming himself with a gun prior to heading to the Kuntz’s home
- She failed to warn the Kuntz family of her husband
- She failed to ensure that her husband did not speed through the neighborhood
Essentially, the suit alleges that she knew of her husband’s temperment, knew he packed a gun, and knew he was going to get into a verbal – if not physical – confrontation with Kuntz, yet did nothing to stop him, warn the Kuntz family, or call authorities.
Who Can Be Sued for Wrongful Death?
A wrongful death lawsuit can be brought against a variety of persons, employees, companies and even government agencies. Let’s say there was a car accident involving both a drunk driver and a faulty roadway. A wrongful death action could include:
- The driver/employer at fault for the accident
- The government agent who did not provide adequate warnings about a potential road hazard
- The designer/builder of the faulty roadway
- The person(s) who served, sold or provided the impaired driver with alcohol
There is a lot of misinformation about wrongful death claims and what your rights are as a person who has lost a loved one. At Dwyer Williams Cherkoss Attorneys, PC, we make sure that our clients receive the care and attention they need so that you are not only financially compensated for your loss, but that you are able to fully focus on your emotional recovery.
If you have lost a loved one prematurely as a result of someone else’s actions, we invite you to give us a call at (541) 316-1604 to arrange for your free consultation.