Recent Shooting Could Lead to Civil Claims

Mike Schneider

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 485

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March 15, 2009, a party at a warehouse in South Anchorage went bad. Chad Zurfluh tried to break up a fight, was assaulted himself, and thrown out of the warehouse where the party was going on. Stupidly, he returned with a friend, Oscar J. Lajoei, 29. Lajoei was armed. According to witnesses, as Zurfluh tried to open the door to the warehouse, Lajoei opened fire with a handgun. Bullets went throught the door striking and killing Dimond High student, Colton Crow, and injurying Robert Lee, 21 and Alexandru Hidan, 22, both of Anchorage.

Criminal charges are pending, but won't do much to pay for the medical bills or funeral expenses. The injured and the family of the dead young man should consider making claims for personal injury and wrongful death. A good lawyer handling these claims will assert "joint" or "conserted action" liability against Lajoei and Zurfluh. If either or both are named, or additional, insureds under a homeowner's policy, then that insurance should respond to pay the claims in full. Alaska's statute of limitations will bar these claims if not asserted by filing a complaint in the right court, naming the right defendants, by the second anniversary of the shooting.