A woman has filed a lawsuit against a city government, claiming negligence after suffering injuries at a local park. On February 26, 2026, Paula Bogdal submitted her complaint to the Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, accusing the City of St. Petersburg of failing to maintain safe conditions at Coquina Key Park.
The incident occurred on March 13, 2025, when Bogdal was using the pickleball court at Coquina Key Park. According to the complaint, she tripped over a PVC pipe that extended five feet from beneath a bench adjacent to the court. The lawsuit claims that this dangerous condition led to serious and permanent injuries for Bogdal. The plaintiff argues that the City of St. Petersburg had a duty to ensure the safety of park visitors by maintaining the premises and addressing any hazards. Despite this obligation, Bogdal alleges that the city failed in several ways: allowing the hazardous pipe to remain, neglecting proper inspections, and not providing adequate warnings about potential dangers.
Bogdal’s legal team asserts that these failures constitute negligence on behalf of the city. As a result of her fall, Bogdal claims she has endured significant physical pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, and financial losses due to medical expenses and lost wages. She is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 as well as any additional relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Represented by attorneys Daniel E. Havican Jr., Hunter A. Higdon, and Christopher D. Gray from Florin | Gray law firm in Lutz, Florida, Bogdal demands a jury trial for her case against the City of St. Petersburg (Case Number: 26-001266-CI). The presiding judge has yet to be named.
Source: 26001266CI_Paula_Bogdal_v_City_of_Peterburg_Complaint_Pinellas_County_Florida.pdf
