In the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, plaintiff Andrew Matthias Martino has filed a lawsuit against defendants Paradise Family, LLC; Another Day in Paradise Boat Club, LLC, doing business as Freedom Boat Club of Tampa Bay; and Christopher Billings Lasiter. The case number is 24-001322-ClI and was filed on March 22, 2024.
The plaintiff alleges that on February 24, 2022, he suffered severe injuries including fractures in his spinal column and other injuries to the thoracic spine due to reckless operation of a vessel by defendant Lasiter. The incident took place aboard the vessel M/V Hard Knot Life during a voyage which departed and returned to Pinellas County, Florida.
The complaint states that at the time of the incident, defendant Paradise was the record owner of the vessel while defendant Freedom was the owner pro hac vice of the vessel and operated it as a livery vessel for Freedom Boat Club of Tampa Bay. Martino was aboard as a guest after being invited by Lasiter who had rented the vessel from Freedom.
Martino is seeking judgment for damages exceeding $50,000 exclusive of attorney's fees and costs. He claims that Lasiter breached his duties by carelessly operating the vessel in violation of common law duty and Florida Statutes; failing to direct passengers to safe seating positions; failing to maintain a proper lookout; traveling at an improper speed for conditions presented; negligently ramping over wake despite objections from Martino among other allegations.