TAMPA - An airport services company is being sued for the alleged injury of a disabled passenger.
Meagan Austin, as personal representative of the estate of Debra Anne MacDonald, filed a lawsuit on Dec. 12 in Hillsborough County Circuit Court against Prospect Airport Services, Inc. for negligence.
According to the lawsuit, on Sept. 16, 2019, MacDonald notified the Tampa International Airport of being disabled and that she would require wheelchair transportation services. Upon arrival at the airport, a wheelchair was brought for transportation services, and an employee loaded MacDonald into the chair and pushed her through the airport.
The employee was also pushing another passenger in a wheelchair as they approached the tram, which takes a passenger from the main terminal to the gate. The tram announced the doors were closing and warned to stand back, but rather than waiting, the employee rushed to enter the tram with both wheelchairs before the door closed, the suit claims.
Not making it in time, the tram door slammed into both wheelchairs and caused MacDonald to suffer significant injury, the suit says.
MacDonald was caused to suffer permanent bodily injury, resulting pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, inconvenience, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, medical treatment and expenses and/or permanent aggravation of a previously existing condition.
The plaintiff is represented by Adam A. Itzkowitz of Largo.
Hillsborough County Circuit Court filing number 140508292