A shocking lawsuit has been filed against two telecommunications companies, alleging negligence that led to significant injuries. On June 11, 2024, Darrin Conley filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, accusing Frontier Florida LLC and Startak Fiber LLC of negligence.
According to the complaint, Conley resides in Pinellas County and owns a shop located at 3023 61st Avenue N., St. Petersburg. The lawsuit details how Frontier Florida LLC, a telecommunications company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, entered into an agreement with Startak Fiber LLC from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The agreement tasked Startak with installing and maintaining fiberoptic cables near Conley's shop. Both companies are registered to do business in Pinellas County.
The incident occurred on September 5, 2023. On that day, employees from both Frontier and Startak were working on cable installations or maintenance near Conley's shop. According to the complaint, these employees left an exposed cable on the ground outside the shop. Later that evening, as Conley was walking around his property, he tripped over the exposed cable and suffered severe injuries.
The lawsuit alleges multiple acts of negligence by both Frontier and Startak. For instance, it claims that Frontier failed to adequately supervise its staff and ensure proper installation procedures were followed. Additionally, it accuses both companies of failing to train their employees properly and not providing adequate warnings about the hazards posed by the exposed cables.
Conley’s attorney argues that both companies had a duty of reasonable care for his safety but breached this duty through various negligent actions or omissions. The complaint states: "Frontier negligently failed to adequately provide, maintain, inspect, install, and/or adequately place the various cables in the area outside of Plaintiff's shop." Similar accusations are made against Startak Fiber LLC.
As a result of this alleged negligence, Conley suffered extensive injuries including permanent bodily harm, pain and suffering (both physical and mental), disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, inconvenience, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, medical expenses for hospitalization and treatment, lost wages as well as future earning potential.
Conley is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 from each defendant along with a jury trial for all issues triable by right. His legal representation is being handled by Blake Fromang from Morgan & Morgan P.A., based in Palm Harbor.
The case has been assigned Case Number: 24-002596-CI and will be presided over by judges yet to be named.