In a tragic incident that took place last year, a Florida woman named Gloria Serge lost her life to an alligator attack while walking her dog in her own backyard. Now, the family of the deceased has decided to take legal action against the Spanish Lakes senior housing complex's owner, Wynne Building Corp.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, accuses the housing complex of negligence, alleging that the employees of Spanish Lakes fed the alligator, known as "Henry," and failed to have it removed from the neighborhood retention pond. According to Gloria Serge's family attorneys, Gary Lesser and Joshua Ferraro, the routine feeding of Henry by Spanish Lakes employees reduced the alligator's fear of humans, leading to this tragic incident. The lawsuit also claims that the complex threatened to evict Serge if she walked her dog on the street, forcing her to walk next to the retention pond.

Additionally, the family argues that Spanish Lakes failed to inform residents about the presence of alligators in the area and even installed docks and waterside benches, creating a false sense of security for residents like Serge. The attorneys assert that this incident was entirely preventable had the housing complex taken appropriate precautions.

At a press conference, Gary Lesser emphasized, "If Spanish Lakes had taken any measure of commonsense, reasonable action, Gloria would be here today." Currently, no comments have been received from Wynne Building Corp. or Spanish Lakes officials regarding the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed in state court, seeks unspecified damages on behalf of Serge's family. While fatal alligator attacks are relatively rare in Florida, with statistics from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission indicating 26 fatalities out of 453 reported alligator attacks since 1948 through 2022, this incident underscores the importance of avoiding interactions with alligators and refraining from feeding them.

A security video obtained by the TV show "Inside Edition" reveals the terrifying moment when Gloria Serge and her dog, Trooper, were unsuspectingly approached by the alligator. Trooper managed to escape, but sadly, Serge was grabbed by the alligator and pulled into the retention pond. Carol Thomas, a neighbor who witnessed the attack, recounted her futile attempts to save Serge, stating, "There's nothing you can do. Just kind of haunted by that, you know, I don't know what else I could've done."

Serge's body was later recovered, and the alligator responsible for the attack was captured and euthanized. The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of respecting wildlife and avoiding any practices that might habituate alligators to human presence.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the family of Gloria Serge hopes that this lawsuit will shed light on the need for increased safety measures and responsible behavior in proximity to alligator habitats.