A recent court filing has thrust a prominent property management company into the spotlight, as serious allegations of negligence have been brought against it. On July 8, 2024, Suzette Washington filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, accusing Morgan Properties Management Company, LLC and Reserve at Lake Pointe (M-O) Owner LLC of failing to maintain safe premises.
According to the complaint, Washington alleges that on October 5, 2023, she was an invitee at the Reserve at Lake Pointe Apartments & Townhomes located at 5800 Lynn Lake Drive South in St. Petersburg. She claims that due to negligent maintenance by both defendants—Morgan Properties and Reserve at Lake Pointe—she slipped on a puddle caused by a broken sprinkler head on the sidewalk. The lawsuit details that Morgan Properties had contracted with Reserve at Lake Pointe to provide operational and management services for the property.
Washington's attorney asserts that both companies failed in their duty to maintain the premises safely and to warn of potential dangers. "The defendants did not exercise ordinary care to keep the premises safe," reads one part of the complaint. Specific accusations include failing to maintain or adequately inspect the area where water had pooled from a broken sprinkler head, not taking reasonable precautions to prevent injury, and failing to properly supervise employees or contractors responsible for maintaining the area.
The plaintiff is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 for bodily injury, pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability or physical impairment, disfigurement, inconvenience, loss of capacity to lead and enjoy a normal life, medical expenses among other losses. Washington's legal team argues that these damages are a direct result of the defendants' negligence.
Representing Suzette Washington are attorneys Chad M. Pilon and Austin J. Chambers from Chambers|Pilon P.A., based in St. Petersburg. The case has been assigned Case Number 24-003026-CI and will be presided over by judges from the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court in Pinellas County.