Free Traffic Legal Advice

SURELY?

If you can't be bothered to click on the link:

"The family of a security guard shot dead while on the job in Florida has been awarded a $779 million payout.

Reverend Lewis Butler was fatally shot while attempting to protect a cashier during an attempted robbery at an internet gambling cafe in Havana, Florida, in November 2023"

His death is an absolute tragedy, let's not forget that and I'd understand, and fully support, a financial award to his family of his annual salary multiplied by the number of years he had left to work.

$779 million seems a tad excessive?

Somehow the bit that leaps out as odd isn't the payout, but that a Reverend was working as a security guard at an internet gambling cafe.

Unless 'Reverend Lewis Butler' was his actual full name I guess. 

SURELY?
$779 million seems a tad excessive?

There's not a chance in hell that the family will get anywhere near to the figure that was awarded.
The owners of the business will hopefully have liability insurance which will probably be for a maximum of a few million $ and the owner of the business could have his personal financial assets seized and once all of the lawyers have had their cut, the family will get whatever is left.

There is also tax to consider.
Damages in the US are generally made up of two parts, actual and punitive. Actual damages (such as medical bills, loss of income etc) are not taxable but punitive damages (which are designed to punish the guilty party) will probably be taxed so some of the money the family do receive may well go to the IRS.