A Pinellas County resident has filed a lawsuit against a local transit authority, claiming negligence after sustaining serious injuries while riding one of its buses. Deborah Gregory initiated the complaint on November 19, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for Pinellas County, Florida, against the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA).
The case revolves around an incident that occurred on December 1, 2022. On that day, Gregory was a passenger on a PSTA bus traveling near 18th Avenue and 66th Street in St. Petersburg when the bus driver abruptly applied the brakes. This sudden stop allegedly caused Gregory to fall to the floor, resulting in severe bodily harm. The complaint accuses PSTA of failing to exercise reasonable care for passenger safety by not maintaining proper operational standards for their buses and neglecting to provide adequate safety procedures or training for their drivers.
Gregory's legal team argues that PSTA had a non-delegable duty to ensure her safety as a business invitee aboard their vehicle. The complaint details several points of alleged negligence: inadequate maintenance of the bus, failure to warn passengers about potential dangers due to lack of safety protocols or training, and not correcting these hazardous conditions. As a result of this purported negligence, Gregory claims she suffered permanent injuries including physical pain, mental anguish, loss of earnings capacity, and an overall diminished quality of life.
The plaintiff is seeking damages exceeding $50,001 from PSTA. This amount covers not only medical expenses but also compensation for her ongoing suffering and loss of life's enjoyment due to her injuries. Furthermore, Gregory demands a jury trial to adjudicate all issues related to this case.
Representing Deborah Gregory is attorney Georganna Frantzis from Morgan & Morgan P.A., based in Palm Harbor, Florida. The case has been assigned Case Number 24-005077-CI but does not yet list any judges involved.