Tampa Team Obtains Immunity Determination for Client in Wrongful Death Suit

Tampa, Fla. (August 5, 2025) - Tampa Partners Nicholas Dareneau and John Rine obtained a determination of civil immunity for their client after a bifurcated wrongful death trial.

Their client was accused of negligently using deadly force in the early hours on October 30, 2021, at his home in rural Levy County, Florida. Mr. Dareneau and Mr. Rine argued that the use of deadly force was justified under Florida’s Stand Your Ground and Home Protection Statutes.

After a one-day bench trial, the court issued an 11-page order, finding that the evidence presented at trial overwhelmingly established that the use of deadly force was justified and therefore the defendant was immune from a civil lawsuit. Accordingly, the court dismissed the lawsuit and reserved jurisdiction to award the defendant attorneys’ fees and costs.

Mr. Dareneau is a member of Lewis Brisbois' General Liability Practice. He has been practicing in Florida since 2005 and practices primarily in general liability, with a focus on hospitality and premises liability. The work that he has performed for clients has consistently resulted in positive verdicts, summary judgments, and favorable settlements.

Mr. Rine is Managing Partner in the Tampa office of Lewis Brisbois and a member of the General Liability, Hospitality, and Transportation Practices. Mr. Rine has been practicing law in Florida and the Southeastern U.S. for more than twenty years and primarily practices in general liability, with a focus on hospitality and transportation litigation. He also has extensive experience in products liability, professional and legal liability and construction. Mr. Rine has served as lead attorney on over eighty trials.