Joan Mayhew has taken legal action against a municipality, alleging negligence that led to her sustaining serious injuries. The complaint was filed by Joan Mayhew on April 28, 2025, in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Pinellas County, Florida, targeting the City of Clearwater as the defendant.
According to the details outlined in the case, Joan Mayhew was attending jury duty on May 23, 2024, when she experienced a fall due to a hazardous gap while exiting the courthouse premises owned by the City of Clearwater. This incident is claimed to have resulted in significant physical harm and other associated damages. The lawsuit asserts that the City of Clearwater failed in its non-delegable duty to maintain safe conditions on its property and neglected to warn visitors like Mayhew about potential dangers. Specifically, it is alleged that there was an unsafe condition on the pedestrian walkway which had been either known or should have been known by the city due to its prolonged existence.
The plaintiff accuses the City of Clearwater of several counts of negligence including failing to inspect and maintain compliance with safety codes for pedestrian walkways and not addressing or warning about existing hazards. As a result of these alleged failures, Mayhew claims she suffered various injuries including pain, medical expenses, mental anguish, loss of earnings and earning capacity, and an overall diminished quality of life. These injuries are described as permanent and ongoing.
Mayhew seeks compensation exceeding $50,000 for damages incurred from this incident. She demands a jury trial to address her grievances against the City of Clearwater under Florida's Tort Claims Act. The complaint underscores her belief that all necessary preconditions for filing such a claim were met well before initiating this lawsuit.
Representing Joan Mayhew is attorney Justin W. Pimenta from Abrahamson & Uiterwyk Car Accident & Injury Lawyers based in Tampa, Florida. The case has been assigned Case Number 25-002204-CI.