Family of 14-year-old killed at Club Blu files suit

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Club Blu is named as a defendant in two new lawsuits, including one from the family of the 14-year-old killed in the mass shooting there July 25.

Legal action has been expected from the family of Sean Archilles, who retained Fort Myers attorney Dennis L. Webb last week. Webb said then that he would collaborate with fellow Fort Myers attorney Joe North, who’s representing Stef’an Strawder’s family in the wrongful death lawsuit they filed against the club last month. Strawder, 18, and Archilles were the two who died in the attack.

Briana Cochran, who survived a gunshot to her leg that night, and her mother jointly filed the other new lawsuit, alleging negligence. That suit, as well as the Archilles family suit, also name the Carrell Corners plaza and IMC Property Management as defendants.

The Archilles family claims the defendants should have recognized the likelihood that criminal activity wound endanger guests at the teen party the club was holding, pointing to what they allege was inadequate security and a history of criminal issues at the club.

Five lawsuits have now been filed against the club, the plaza and the property management company, including one from Strawder’s sister, who suffered gunshot wounds, and a security guard who was injured.