PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL — A Palm Beach County resident has filed a negligence lawsuit against Palm Beach County in connection with an alleged incident involving a Palm Tran bus, according to a complaint filed in the 15th Judicial Circuit Court.
The lawsuit, Jammie Robinson Elliott v. Palm Beach County, was e-filed on June 26, 2026, and assigned Case No. 502026CA007197XXXAMB in Division AF. Court records show the complaint was filed by attorney William D. Zoeller of Zoeller, Hayden & Thron, PLLC in Palm Beach Gardens. The filing seeks damages in excess of $50,000, exclusive of interest, costs and attorney's fees, and includes a demand for trial by jury.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on or about July 5, 2024. The lawsuit alleges that a Palm Tran bus driver "negligently closed the bus door on the plaintiff while she was trying to board causing her to fall," as stated in the filing.
The complaint frames Palm Beach County as the responsible governmental entity. The filing states that the county "had a business relationship with Palm Tran, Inc.," that "the County owns all of the Palm Tran buses and assets," and that "the County Commissioners for Palm Beach County serve as Palm Tran's officers." On that basis, the complaint alleges Palm Beach County is liable for the actions of the bus driver as its employee.
The single count brought in the complaint is negligence. The lawsuit alleges the driver had a duty to use reasonable care in the operation and maintenance of the bus and breached that duty. The complaint further alleges that Palm Beach County, through its employee, breached a duty of care owed to the plaintiff by "negligently and/or carelessly maintaining, operating, controlling, or entrusting" the bus.
The complaint claims the plaintiff suffered bodily injury, pain and suffering, disability, scarring, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of earnings, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, hospitalization and medical expenses, and aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The lawsuit alleges the losses are either permanent or continuing in nature.
Before filing the lawsuit, the plaintiff was required to provide pre-suit notice to the county under Florida Statute 768.28, which governs claims against governmental entities. The complaint states a notice letter was sent on August 6, 2024, addressed to Palm Tran at its West Palm Beach offices and copied to the Florida Department of Financial Services, and that more than six months passed before the lawsuit was filed. A copy of the pre-suit notice letter is attached to the complaint as Exhibit A.
The claims in the complaint are allegations that have not been proven in court. The filing reviewed by Boca Post does not include a response from Palm Beach County, and no defense attorney is listed in the reviewed record.
Boca Post reviewed the complaint, Jammie Robinson Elliott v. Palm Beach County, Case No. 502026CA007197XXXAMB, filed June 26, 2026 in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida.
The case is newly filed. The complaint demands a jury trial. The docket reviewed by Boca Post does not list a hearing date or a response from the defendant.
LEARN MORE: How Auto Negligence Lawsuits work in Florida. Readers interested in local court records, civil complaints, and legal disputes can follow Boca Post’s Palm Beach County Lawsuits section for ongoing coverage.
