A St. Petersburg resident has filed a lawsuit seeking damages for injuries sustained in a slip-and-fall accident at a local museum’s parking garage. John Zipfel initiated the complaint against The American Craftsman Museum, Inc., filing it on August 30, 2025, in the Circuit Court of Pinellas County, Florida.
The incident in question occurred on April 4, 2024, when Zipfel was visiting the MAACM Parking Garage located at 350 3rd Street N, St. Petersburg. According to the complaint, Zipfel slipped on water that had accumulated on a stairwell due to rain and drainage issues within the garage. This fall resulted in serious and permanent injuries for which he is now seeking compensation. The lawsuit claims that The American Craftsman Museum failed to maintain safe premises by not addressing known hazardous conditions like slippery stairwells caused by water accumulation. “Defendant knew or should have known that the subject area utilized by Plaintiff became unreasonably wet and slippery,” states the complaint.
Zipfel’s attorney, Jonathan I. Rotstein of Rotstein & Shiffman LLP, argues that the museum had both actual and constructive knowledge of these dangerous conditions but neglected to take corrective actions such as installing anti-slip treads or applying non-slip paint. The lawsuit invokes the legal doctrine of Res Ipsa Loquitur to establish negligence through circumstantial evidence, asserting that such an incident would not normally occur without negligence on part of the defendant.
The plaintiff is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 for physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, lost earnings capacity, and medical expenses incurred due to his injuries. Additionally, Zipfel demands judgment for court costs and requests a trial by jury.
Representing Zipfel is attorney Jonathan I. Rotstein from Rotstein & Shiffman LLP based in Daytona Beach. The Case Number is 25-004861-CI.
Source: 25004861CI_John_Zipfel_v_The_American_Craftsman_Complaint_Pinellas_County_Florida.pdfSource: 25004861CI_John_Zipfel_v_The_American_Craftsman_Complaint_Pinellas_County_Florida.pdfSource: 25004861CI_John_Zipfel_v_The_American_Craftsman_Complaint_Pinellas_County_Florida.pdf
