Joan Priest has filed a lawsuit against the City of St. Petersburg, alleging that the municipal corporation wrongfully billed her for water she did not consume. The complaint was filed in the County Court of Pinellas County, Florida, on February 17, 2025. Priest claims that the city has demanded payment for tens of thousands of gallons of water that were never used.
According to the court documents, Joan Priest entered into an express contract with the City of St. Petersburg, which stipulated that she would be charged only for the water she actually consumed. However, Priest alleges that despite this agreement, she received billing statements demanding payment for excessive amounts of water usage. One such statement claimed she used 138,600 gallons in a single 29-day billing cycle while her property at 144 Almedo Way NE was vacant. "The Defendant knew or should have known that the statement it caused to be prepared was not accurate," reads part of the complaint.
Priest accuses the city of breaching their contract by preparing inaccurate billing statements and withdrawing unauthorized funds from her account. She is seeking judgment in her favor along with actual and statutory damages under Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA). The plaintiff also demands an order enjoining further violations by the city and seeks an accounting to clarify all amounts billed and received.
In addition to financial compensation, Priest is requesting a temporary injunction to prevent further erroneous charges or penalties while she gathers evidence to prove her case. Her legal representation argues that these billing practices are not only erroneous but also deceptive under state law.
Represented by attorney Matthew D. Weidner from Weidner Law, P.A., Joan Priest is taking legal action to rectify what she sees as a significant error on part of the City of St. Petersburg's utility billing system. The case is being heard under Case Number: 25-001578-CO in front of Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court for Pinellas County.