FL H6539

The City of Clearwater is authorized and directed to pay $16,037,182.50, plus 9.46% annual interest, to Max Giannikos for catastrophic injuries caused by the city's negligent maintenance of pedestrian crosswalk signals at the Gulf to Bay Boulevard and U.S. Highway 19 intersection on May 28, 2019

On May 28, 2019, then-16-year-old Max Giannikos, a tourist from South Africa, was struck by an SUV traveling approximately 35 mph while attempting to cross the intersection after malfunctioning crosswalk buttons—stuck on "Do Not Walk" due to defective wiring—left him and his family stranded for 30 to 45 minutes with no working pedestrian signal

A Pinellas County jury on September 13, 2024, found total damages of $38,496,781.68, apportioning 45% negligence to the City of Clearwater and 55% to Giannikos; the trial court entered an amended final judgment of $15,687,889.50 on January 6, 2025

Giannikos sustained life-altering traumatic brain injuries, posttraumatic epilepsy, skull and spinal fractures, a punctured lung, and other severe injuries requiring over a month of hospitalization (including 11 days in a coma), with more than $1.1 million in past medical bills and $4.9 million in projected future medical costs

The City of Clearwater's Lloyd's of London insurance policy covers $7 million of the claim; attorney fees are capped at 25% of the total amount awarded under the act, and this payment constitutes the sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the incident