CLEARWATER — A motorist is suing the Academy of Scuba Diving Inc., Karl Allen Simmering and Brandon Taylor Payne, as individuals, citing alleged negligence.
Jay A. English filed a complaint on April 2 in the Pinellas Circuit Court against the defendants alleging that they failed to exercise standard care and skill in the operation of a vehicle.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on June 14, 2016, Payne was operating a vehicle belonging to Simmering when he caused a crash at 30th Avenue North and 66th Street North in St. Petersburgh. As a result, English claims he suffered bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering, disability, inconvenience, aggravation of a pre-existing condition, mental anguish, and loss of earnings; and also incurred medical expenses as a result of the accident.
The plaintiff holds Academy of Scuba Diving, Karl Allen Simmering and Brandon Taylor Payne responsible Payne, who was employed by the Academy of Scuba and was driving the vehicle with Simmering's permission, allegedly failed to adequately maintain and operate a motor vehicle so as not to cause harm, and breached duty of care through negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks a judgment against defendants in an amount in excess of $15,000, exclusive of interest, costs and attorneys’ fees. He is represented by Bruce Culpepper of Culpepper Kurland PLLC in Tampa.
Pinellas Circuit Court case number 18-CA-2012