FL S0098

Directs the City of Clearwater to pay $17,423,551.76 to Max Giannikos as compensation for catastrophic injuries sustained on May 28, 2019, when he was struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross the intersection of Gulf to Bay Boulevard and U.S. Highway 19

A Pinellas County jury on September 13, 2024, found total damages of $38,496,781.68, assigning 45% negligence to the City of Clearwater and 55% comparative negligence to Giannikos, resulting in a final judgment of $17,323,551.76 plus approximately $100,000 in taxable costs

The City of Clearwater's pedestrian crosswalk signals at the intersection were malfunctioning due to defective wiring and negligent maintenance, with witnesses testifying the signals had malfunctioned 10–15 times per year for 10 years; the city repaired/replaced the buttons 2–4 weeks after the incident

Giannikos, a 16-year-old tourist from South Africa, suffered permanent traumatic brain injuries, posttraumatic epilepsy, skull and facial fractures, spinal fractures, a punctured lung, and other severe injuries, spending over a month hospitalized (11 days in a coma) with medical bills exceeding $1.1 million and projected future care costs of $4.9 million

Attorney fees related to the claim are capped at 25% of the total amount awarded, and the payment is intended to serve as sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the incident