In a gripping legal battle that highlights the grave consequences of alleged negligence, a Florida man has taken legal action against a major utility company following a tragic incident. Stefano Salvadore De Luca, acting as the personal representative of the estate of Sandra De Luca, filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida on May 9, 2025. The defendant in this case is Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), accused of failing to maintain electrical equipment properly.
The lawsuit stems from an incident on May 13, 2023, when Sandra De Luca was residing at her home on Hummingbird Lane in Delray Beach, Florida. According to the complaint, FPL owned and maintained the power lines and transformer boxes that supplied electricity to her residence. The plaintiff alleges that FPL had a duty to exercise the highest degree of care in maintaining this equipment but failed to do so. As stated in court documents, "Defendant negligently maintained the electrical equipment... by failing to ensure and inspect the electrical equipment to prevent it from sparking and causing a fire."
Tragically, this alleged negligence led to a fire starting in the carport of Mrs. De Luca's residence. The fire resulted in severe injuries for Mrs. De Luca, which ultimately contributed to her death on June 24, 2023. The complaint asserts that these injuries were permanent and directly linked to FPL's failure to uphold its duty of care.
Stefano Salvadore De Luca seeks compensatory damages exceeding $50,000 for his mother's estate. He is asking for judgment against FPL for medical expenses incurred due to Mrs. De Luca's injuries and other related costs. Additionally, he demands court costs and any further relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Stefano Salvadore De Luca is Bernstein & Maryanoff LLC., with attorneys Jacob D. Maldonado and Elizabeth Maryanoff taking charge of the case. The Case Number is: 502025CA004576XXXAMB.