JUPITER — A 22-year-old Palm Seaside Gardens man who jumped within the Harbourside Place fountain to assist a 45-year-old Jupiter father of 4 save his youngsters from electrical shocks has sued the advanced for damages.
The electrocution, which occurred final October on the standard Jupiter waterfront retail and restaurant advanced, killed city native Nate Davenport and despatched one other man and three of Davenport’s youngsters to hospitals.
Davenport’s household lately settled its personal lawsuit with Harbourside Place. Its lawsuit claimed that the advanced’s homeowners negligently allowed damaged lights contained in the fountain to leak electrical voltage into the swimming pools that day. The fountain stays out of service and blocked off from guests.
‘A brother to everyone’: Mates recall Nate Davenport, who died saving children in Jupiter fountain
New lawsuit calls Jupiter’s Harbourside Place fountain ‘a hidden entice’
The brand new lawsuit filed on Feb. 1 particulars that Syler Sparks was visiting Harbourside Place on Oct. 22 when he heard individuals crying at its fountain. It stated he entered the fountain to assist Davenport and others struggling to get out. Sparks claims that he additionally received shocked by the electrical energy working via the water.
Calling the fountain a “hidden entice,” the lawsuit seeks greater than $50,000 in damages and says that incident inflicted emotional trauma and misery on Sparks, in addition to “severe and vital” bodily accidents.
Harbourside Place electrocution: Lady recollects feeling shock in fountain water that summer season
In a ready assertion, Barry A. Postman of West Palm Seaside, the lawyer representing Harbourside Place, stated he understood Sparks’ accidents to be minor. “We’ll proceed to work with Mr. Sparks’ counsel to try to attain an amicable decision to this lawsuit,” the assertion stated.
Postman stated in December that the advanced’s homeowners have been fully unaware of any downside with the fountain earlier than the incident and that “they’d have moved instantly to repair it” had they recognized.
Joseph Curley, the circuit choose presiding over Sparks’ lawsuit, has not but set a listening to date. Michael Overbeck, the West Palm Seaside-based lawyer representing Sparks, has not returned a request for remark.
Father jumped in to fountain waters to save lots of fearful youngsters
The electrocution occurred when Davenport and a pal had taken a few of their youngsters to Harbourside Place on Oct. 22. Three of the youngsters started to play within the splash space and fountain, and one fell into the water. Indicators posted close to the fountain stated swimming was not permitted.
When the children screamed from the water, Davenport jumped in with out hesitation and threw the children out of the fountain. Then he fell over.
Davenport was within the water solely about 30 seconds earlier than he felt {an electrical} present undergo his physique, based on a Jupiter police report. He misplaced consciousness, by no means regained it and was pronounced lifeless at Jupiter Medical Middle.
His pal, Seth Kozak, received within the water to assist Davenport however felt a shock, after which one other one as he reached to assist his youngster. He and the three youngsters who have been shocked obtained remedy at St. Mary’s Medical Middle in West Palm Seaside.
Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Seaside County for The Palm Seaside Submit, a part of the USA TODAY Florida-Community. Attain her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Help native journalism: Subscribe immediately.
This text initially appeared on Palm Seaside Submit: Palm Seaside Gardens man sues Harbourside over fountain electrocution
