A Pinellas County resident has taken legal action against the county government, alleging negligence that led to a serious injury. Wendy Taylor filed the complaint in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida in and for Pinellas County on July 16, 2024, accusing Pinellas County of failing to maintain safe conditions on its property.
According to the court documents, Wendy Taylor claims that on January 25, 2023, she was walking on a sidewalk at the intersection of 82nd Street North and Portulaca Avenue in Pinellas County when she tripped and fell due to an uneven and dilapidated section of the sidewalk. The lawsuit states that Pinellas County was aware or should have been aware of this hazardous condition but failed to take any corrective action. "At no time material hereto did the Defendant, PINELLAS COUNTY, remove, repair, or remediate the known dangerous condition," reads a portion of the complaint.
Taylor asserts that as a member of the public using the sidewalk for ingress and egress purposes, she had every right to expect it would be maintained safely. The plaintiff argues that Pinellas County had a duty to keep its premises in a reasonably safe condition for all members of the public. However, their failure to do so resulted in her suffering significant injuries. The complaint details her injuries as including bodily harm, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for enjoyment of life, medical expenses including nursing and hospitalization costs, loss of earnings and earning capacity, and aggravation of pre-existing injuries.
The plaintiff is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 along with costs incurred from this incident. She also demands a trial by jury to resolve this matter. "As a result of said negligence," Taylor's filing states she has endured extensive losses which are either permanent or ongoing in nature.
Representing Wendy Taylor are attorneys William H. Winters and Marc E. Yonker from Winters & Yonker P.A., based in Tampa. The case has been assigned Case No.: yet remains under review by judges within the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court.