A recent court filing in Pinellas County, Florida, has brought to light a harrowing incident involving a minor who was injured at a local school. The complaint, filed by Anne-Marie Saitta on June 6, 2024, accuses Learning Independence for Tomorrow, Inc. (LIFT) and Skanska USA Building, Inc. (Skanska) of negligence that led to her son Vincent Saitta's injuries.
According to the complaint filed in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Anne-Marie Saitta alleges that on September 21, 2023, her son Vincent was exiting the LIFT-operated school property located at 1005 S. Highland Ave., Clearwater when a metal bar fell and struck him. The lawsuit claims that both LIFT and Skanska failed to maintain safe conditions at the property where construction work was being carried out by Skanska.
The plaintiff asserts that LIFT had hired Skanska for construction work at the school premises and that both entities were responsible for ensuring safety during this period. "On the date of the incident," states the complaint, "LIFT owed the Plaintiff...the duty to exercise reasonable care for the safety of Plaintiff." It further alleges that LIFT breached this duty by failing to adequately maintain or inspect the doorway area from which the metal bar fell.
Similarly, Skanska is accused of not fulfilling its responsibilities regarding site safety. The complaint highlights several points of negligence against Skanska: failing to maintain or inspect the doorway area properly and not warning about potential hazards despite knowing—or having enough time to know—about them. These failures allegedly resulted in Vincent suffering injuries to his head and body as he exited through what should have been a safe passageway.
The injuries sustained by Vincent are described as severe and life-altering. According to Anne-Marie Saitta’s filing, her son incurred medical expenses for treatment and suffered both physical and mental pain. The document also mentions permanent injury affecting his ability to lead a normal life—a loss deemed either permanent or continuing in nature.
In terms of legal relief, Anne-Marie Saitta is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 from each defendant. She demands judgment against both LIFT and Skanska for their alleged negligence and requests a jury trial for all issues triable by right.
Representing Anne-Marie Saitta are attorneys Michael A. Rettew and Courtney N. Rettew from Rettew Law, PA based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The case is presided over under Case Number: 24-0025 12-CI.