A recent lawsuit has been filed against a well-known automotive service company and a property owner, alleging negligence that resulted in serious injuries. On April 9, 2025, Philip Mehl lodged a complaint in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, against The Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack, LLC (operating as Pep Boys) and 5500 SW 8th Street Property, Inc.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred on April 12, 2023. According to the complaint, Mehl was visiting the Pep Boys facility located at 2064 W. Indiantown Road in Jupiter, Florida for vehicle maintenance. After his car was serviced, he noticed that the hood had not been properly secured by the service personnel. As he attempted to address this issue himself by exiting his vehicle to secure the hood properly, he tripped over an improperly maintained transition between brick pavers and a sidewalk on the premises. This fall resulted in significant injuries for Mehl.
Mehl's lawsuit accuses both defendants of negligence. He claims that Pep Boys failed to maintain safe conditions for its patrons by not ensuring a level path for ingress and egress or warning about potential hazards such as the uneven transition area. Furthermore, Mehl asserts that this dangerous condition was either known or should have been known by Pep Boys through reasonable care practices. The complaint also holds Pep Boys accountable for not adequately securing his vehicle’s hood initially.
In addition to Pep Boys' alleged negligence, Mehl's complaint extends similar accusations towards 5500 SW 8th Street Property Inc., which owns the real estate where the incident took place. He argues that as property owners they held a non-delegable duty to ensure safe conditions on their premises but failed similarly by allowing hazardous transitions between walking surfaces without proper warnings or maintenance.
As part of his legal action, Mehl seeks damages exceeding $50,000 from each defendant along with costs and prejudgment interest as authorized by law. He demands judgment for damages due to bodily injury resulting in pain and suffering among other losses which are claimed to be permanent or continuing.
Representing Philip Mehl is attorney Richard K. Slinkman from Slinkman Slinkman & Wynne P.A., based out of Jupiter Florida. The case has been assigned Case Number: 502025CA003383XXXAMB.