FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Black Rock Trial Lawyers Files Premises Liability Lawsuit After Resident Suffers Serious Injuries on Defective Stairway
Tampa, Florida — December 11, 2025 — Black Rock Trial Lawyers announced today that it has filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for St. Johns County on behalf of Richard Pracel, a local resident who sustained severe injuries after slipping and falling on a defective exterior stairway at his apartment building. The complaint alleges that the property owner, 203 Ninth, LLC, failed to construct and maintain the stairway in accordance with the Florida Building Code and its statutory obligations under Florida law.
According to the complaint, Mr. Pracel was a resident of a townhome in St. Augustine on December 12, 2023, when he slipped and fell while ascending the stairs leading to his apartment. As a direct result of the fall, the lawsuit states that he suffered “massive damages with regard to his present and future health.”
The filing asserts that the building’s exterior stairway did not comply with the Florida Building Code, which requires proper handrails on stairways with four or more risers. The complaint further alleges that the Defendant failed to install required handrails and violated multiple structural and safety specifications mandated by the Code—including necessary handrail height, graspability, and strength requirements. The Defendant’s violations, the suit states, constitute prima facie negligence under Florida law.
“This fall was entirely preventable,” said Gil Sanchez, lead counsel for the Plaintiff at Black Rock Trial Lawyers. “Florida’s building and safety codes exist to protect residents. When property owners disregard these rules, people get hurt—and in this case, our client suffered life-altering injuries because basic safety measures were ignored.”
The complaint includes counts for Negligence, Premises Liability, and Violation of the Florida Building Code, alleging that the Defendant had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition yet failed to remedy it. The lawsuit seeks compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, wage loss, and other damages permitted under Florida law.
Black Rock Trial Lawyers emphasizes its commitment to ensuring that property owners are held accountable when unsafe conditions cause harm.
“Our firm will pursue every available remedy to secure justice for Mr. Pracel and to ensure that no other resident is put at risk because of substandard construction or negligent maintenance,” added Sanchez.
About Black Rock Trial Lawyers:
Black Rock Trial Lawyers is a premier personal injury law firm dedicated to representing individuals and businesses in a wide range of legal matters. With a commitment to excellence and a proven track record of success, the firm strives to provide clients with the highest quality legal representation.
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Media Contact:
Monica Sanchez, COO
Black Rock Trial Lawyers, LLC
(813) 254-1777
monica@blackrocklaw.com