LANTANA, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A civil lawsuit filed in Palm Beach County court claims a woman was injured in a trip-and-fall on a public sidewalk in Lantana and is seeking damages from the Town of Lantana and Palm Beach County.
The case is Claire Black v. Town of Lantana and Palm Beach County, Case No. 502026CA002335XXXAMB, filed Feb. 26, 2026, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County, Florida.
The plaintiff, Claire Black, alleges she was walking on the public sidewalk or walkway on East Ocean Avenue in Lantana on Aug. 6, 2022, heading toward the Old Key Lime House restaurant, when she encountered a defective condition that caused her to trip and fall.
According to the complaint, Black alleges the sidewalk or walkway had a dangerous condition that included an uneven elevation. The lawsuit claims the condition caused her to trip while walking along the designated public walkway.
The complaint alleges the Town of Lantana and Palm Beach County were jointly responsible for the ownership, maintenance, and safety of the area of the sidewalk or walkway at issue. It further claims the defendants owed a duty to maintain roads, sidewalks, and rights-of-way in a reasonably safe condition for ordinary pedestrian use, and that they knew or should have known pedestrians would be using the area.
In a single negligence count, the plaintiff claims the defendants failed to use reasonable care, including by failing to maintain the sidewalk or walkway, failing to design, construct, or maintain it in a condition favorable for pedestrian use, and failing to repair or modify the area to reduce the hazard. The complaint also alleges failures related to inspecting for unsafe conditions, taking measures to avoid or warn of a potentially dangerous condition, and addressing a condition the defendants allegedly had actual or constructive knowledge of.
The complaint alleges the fall caused injuries including harm to her head, neck, back, body, limbs, and knees, and states she suffered pain, disability, disfigurement, and loss of the ability to enjoy life. It also alleges an aggravation of a preexisting condition. The suit claims she has incurred medical expenses in the past and will incur additional medical bills and related expenses in the future.
The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $50,000 and includes a demand for jury trial.
The complaint also references pre-suit notice under Florida law, alleging the plaintiff provided notice to the Town of Lantana and the Florida Department of Financial Services, and separately to Palm Beach County and the Florida Department of Financial Services, with copies of notice materials attached as exhibits.
As with any civil filing, the allegations are claims made by the plaintiff in her lawsuit and have not been proven in court.
The original complaint, Claire Black v. Town of Lantana and Palm Beach County, Case No. 502026CA002335XXXAMB, as filed Feb. 26, 2026, with the Clerk of Court, can be viewed here.
LEARN MORE: How Premises Liability Lawsuits work in Palm Beach County.
