CLEARWATER — Two Gulfport property owners are suing a public utility company, alleging negligence.
Gerald Dinino and Meishelle Haverkamp filed a complaint March 13 in Pinellas Circuit Court against Duke Energy Florida LLC and T&D Solutions of Louisiana LLC, alleging failure to follow applicable safety guidelines and regulations.
According to the complaint, in June 2017, the plaintiffs' property at 2910 DuPont St., S., Gulfport, suffered damages due to sewage and water flooding the premises. The suit says this caused mold, flooring and insulation damages, making the property uninhabitable.
The lawsuit states the defendants negligently installed a new power pole that destroyed the sanitary sewer line that served the plaintiffs' property.
The plaintiffs allege Duke Energy Florida and T&D Solutions of Louisiana failed to maintain the property in a clean and safe condition, failed to properly install a new power pole, and caused the plaintiffs expenses for the repair of the property and loss of the ability to lease the property and collect rents and profits.
Dinino and Haverkamp seek trial by jury, damages of more than $15,000, prejudgment interest, court costs and general relief. They are represented by attorney William H. Walker of Law Office of William H. Walker in St. Petersburg.
Pinellas Circuit Court case number 18-CA-1557