Theresa McKeown and her husband, James O'Brien, have filed a lawsuit against several parties including a construction company and government entities, alleging negligence that led to significant injuries. The complaint was filed on March 7, 2025, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida. The defendants named in the case are Vintage Building and Design, LLC, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the City of Delray Beach, and property owners Anthony and Elisabeth Salvadore.
The plaintiffs allege that on March 11, 2023, Theresa McKeown suffered severe injuries after tripping over a broken sidewalk adjacent to a construction site at 734 S. Ocean Blvd./SR A1A in Delray Beach. The complaint details that prior to this incident, Anthony and Elisabeth Salvadore had contracted Vintage Building and Design to construct a house on their property at this location. It is claimed that during construction activities by Vintage Building and its agents or subcontractors, the public sidewalk became hazardous due to being "broken, depressed, raised, uneven," which resulted in McKeown's fall.
The plaintiffs assert that all defendants were aware or should have been aware of the dangerous condition of the sidewalk but failed to take necessary precautions or repair it. They claim that both FDOT and the City of Delray Beach were responsible for maintaining this stretch of sidewalk as part of their duties concerning public safety infrastructure. Furthermore, they allege that Anthony and Elisabeth Salvadore neglected their duty as property owners to ensure safe conditions on adjoining public sidewalks.
The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $50,000 for bodily injury sustained by Theresa McKeown due to what they argue was negligence by all defendants involved. The complaint outlines specific breaches such as failing to maintain safe conditions on the sidewalk during construction activities by Vintage Building; neglecting necessary repairs despite awareness of hazards; not warning pedestrians about potential dangers; inadequate supervision over contractors; allowing violations of building codes; among others.
In addition to compensatory damages for physical injuries including pain and suffering experienced by Theresa McKeown – described as permanent or continuing – her husband James O’Brien is also seeking compensation for loss of consortium resulting from his wife's injuries.
Representing Theresa McKeown and James O’Brien is attorney F. Stephanie Barnhart from Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley P.A., based in West Palm Beach. The case has been filed under Case Number 502025CA002167XXXAMB.