Paralyzed man awarded $644M after Winter Park bar fall

Jury awards $644M in damages to man paralyzed after fall at Winter Park bar

WESH TWO NEWS STARTS NOW WITH BREAKING NEWS. GOOD MORNING. ON THIS FRIDAY I’M MEREDITH MCDONOUGH AND I’M ALAN CAMPBELL. THAT BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING COMING OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST. WE HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT FOUR MORE U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN KILLED. SO HERE IS THE STATEMENT. U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND RELEASED IN THE LAST 30 MINUTES. IT SAYS THOSE FOUR SERVICE MEMBERS WERE ON BOARD THE REFUELING AIRCRAFT THAT WENT DOWN IN IRAQ YESTERDAY. IT’S UNCLEAR THE CONDITION OF THE OTHER TWO SERVICE MEMBERS ON BOARD. CENTCOM SAYS THAT RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE. WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO FIND OUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRASH. ACCORDING TO CENTCOM, THE LOSS OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT DUE TO HOSTILE FIRE OR FRIENDLY FIRE. THE MILITARY WILL RELEASE THEIR IDENTITIES ONCE THE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. ALL RIGHT. LET’S CHECK IN WITH FIRST WARNING METEOROLOGIST ERIC BURRIS FOR A LOOK AT OUR FRIDAY FORECAST. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE ERIC ARE GETTING READY FOR SPRING BREAK GETAWAYS. THAT’S RIGHT. AND TEMPERATURES ARE DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT THIS MORNING. HAD A FRONT MOVE THROUGH YESTERDAY. WE’RE RUNNING ABOUT 12 OR SO DEGREES COOLER THAN YESTERDAY OUT WEST, ABOUT FIVE OR SO IN MANY OTHER AREAS AROUND CENTRAL FLORIDA. WE’VE WARMED JUST A SMIDGE. IT’S 64 IN THE CITY, BUT 59 HERE IN THE VILLAGES, 55 IN OCALA, 62 OUTSIDE IN PALM COAST. BUT THE 70S IN BREVARD COUNTY. THAT BREEZE KIND OF HELPING YOU OUT. IT LOOKS LOVELY THOUGH. IN BREVARD COUNTY, LOTS OF CLOUDS OVER TOP OF US, TEMPERATURES HANGING OUT BECAUSE OF THAT BREEZE. A LITTLE WARMER. FIRST WARNING LIVE RADAR SHOWING A FEW TEENY TINY SHOWERS TRYING TO WORK ON IN FROM TIME TO TIME. VOLUSIA COUNTY HERE. SOMETHING TO WATCH. BASICALLY THOUGH, TODAY WE’LL START WITH CLOUDS. THEN WE’LL GET MORE AND MORE SUNSHINE AS TEMPERATURES GRADUALLY WORK INTO THE UPPER RANGE OF THE 70S. WE’RE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT HOW THIS PLAYS IN, THOUGH, TO EVEN MORE CHANGES THIS WEEKEND WHEN WE SEE IT COMING UP IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES. NOW, JUST ABOUT 601, LET’S GET A TRAFFIC CHECK WITH MEAGHAN MACKEY ERIC NICE AND QUIET TO START OFF OUR FRIDAY MORNING, ENDING OFF OUR WORKWEEK. HERE’S A LIVE LOOK I-4 NEAR LAKE MARY BOULEVARD. NO DELAYS ALONG THE ENTIRE I-4 CORRIDOR. YOU CAN SEE NO ISSUES IN SEMINOLE COUNTY, ORANGE COUNTY CLEAR AND QUIET. THERE’S A CRASH ALONG I-75 IN. THIS IS FROM OVERNIGHT. IT INVOLVED A SEMI TRUCK. IT HAPPENED LATE LAST NIGHT IN. THE SEMI TRUCK ACTUALLY RAN INTO A GUARDRAIL HERE NEAR 100 STREET. SO CREWS ARE ACTUALLY OUT THERE WORKING THIS MORNING. JUST BE MINDFUL OF THEM. THEY’RE WORKING IN THE MEDIAN BUT ALL THE LANES ARE OPEN THERE ALONG I-75. WE ARE ENTERING THE BUSY SPRING BREAK TRAVEL PERIOD. SO HAVE YOUR WAIT TIMES RIGHT NOW WITH ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT GATES ONE THROUGH 59. THOSE TSA WAIT TIMES ARE 29 MINUTES AND HEAVIEST WAIT TIMES FOR GATE 70 TO 129. WE’RE SITTING AT ABOUT 33. ALLEN THIS MORNING. WE’RE GETTING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT A FORMER HOSPITAL WORKER ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILDREN. ERIN STARBIRD HERE WORKED AT SOUTH LAKE HOSPITAL IN CLERMONT AND WESH 2’S. BOB HAZEN IS LIVE OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL THIS MORNING. BOB INVESTIGATORS SAY THERE COULD BE DOZENS OF VICTIMS. THE ARREST REPORT DOES NOT SAY THAT ANY OF THE POSSIBLE VICTIMS HAD ANY CONNECTION TO THIS HOSPITAL WHERE THAT SUSPECT WORKED, BUT THEY WERE AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY. THAT SUSPECT IS 44 YEAR OLD AARON STARBIRD, AND HE IS FACING FEDERAL CHARGES NOW. THE INVESTIGATION STARTED LAST YEAR. ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THAT A DETECTIVE POSING AS A 14 YEAR OLD BOY ON A HOOKUP WEBSITE GOT MESSAGES FOR SHOWING LEWD PICTURES AND ASKING ABOUT MEETING UP. INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY TRACKED THOSE MESSAGES BACK TO STARBOARD. DETECTIVES LEARNED THAT STARBOARD WORKED AS A SYSTEMS SPECIALIST, PHARMACY TECHNICIAN HERE AT SOUTHLAKE HOSPITAL. THAT WORRIED THEM BECAUSE THEY FEARED THERE COULD BE CHILDREN. PATIENTS HERE THAT WERE VICTIMS. THEY EVENTUALLY BROUGHT HIM IN FOR QUESTIONING. THE FEDS SAY STARBOARD CLAIMED THAT HE ONLY LIKED ADULTS, BUT HIS PHONE HAD A VERY DIFFERENT STORY. IT ALLEGEDLY HAD AT LEAST 77 VIDEOS INDICATIVE, IN THEIR WORDS, OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS CHATS WITH PEOPLE ON TELEGRAM SHARING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL WITH HIM. IN ONE OF THOSE MESSAGES, THE FEDS SAY STARBOARD QUOTE DISCUSSED PRIOR INSTANCES OF HANDS ON RAPE OF MALE CHILDREN AND STATED HE PREFERRED CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF TEN AND 12. FROM THOSE VIDEOS, INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY TRACKED DOWN ONE BOY WHO SAID THAT STARBOARD HAD RAPED HIM WHEN HE WAS 14. AND EVEN MORE SHOCKING, THE DETECTIVE SAYS, QUOTE, HE FOUND EVIDENCE OF AT LEAST 30 OTHER CHILDREN WHOM I BELIEVE HAVE ENGAGED IN SEXUAL ACTS WITH STARBOARD. AFTER COMMUNICATING WITH STARBOARD ONLINE, HE IS NOW FACING THOSE FEDERAL CHARGES. HE’S IN JAIL IN SEMINOLE COUNTY WITH NO BOND. HE’S ALSO FACING LOCAL CHARGES IN ORANGE COUNTY AND THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM HERE SAYS THAT STARBOARD NO LONGER WORKS AT SOUTHLAKE HOSPITAL COVERING LAKE COUNTY, LIV IN CLERMONT. BOB HAZEN WESH TWO NEWS. THE MOTHER OF THIS THREE YEAR OLD GIRL, BEATEN TO DEATH, IS NOW FACING AN AGGRAVATED MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE AND PROSECUTORS FILED THE OFFICIAL CHARGES, INCLUDING CHILD NEGLECT, LAST NIGHT. INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT JENNIFER KENDRICK’S BOYFRIEND, JEROME COOMBS, CONFESSED TO TYING UP THE THREE YEAR OLD PAISLEY’S WRISTS WITH A ROPE AND THEN ALSO USING TAPE TO BIND HER LEGS. KUNST IS FACING HOMICIDE AND CHILD NEGLECT CHARGES. A FLAGLER COUNTY WOMAN IS HOME AFTER BONDING OUT OF JAIL. SHE’S ACCUSED OF GIVING BIRTH AT HER PALM COAST HOME LAST WEEK, WATCHING HER BABY DIE, AND LATER BURIED THE NEWBORN IN HER BACKYARD. 20 YEAR OLD ANNE MAY ANGELO WAS SEEN RUNNING FROM CAMERAS AS SHE BONDED OUT OF THE FLAGLER COUNTY JAIL. THE JUDGE GRANTED HER $250,000 BOND WITH CONDITIONS INCLUDING GPS MONITORING, NO CONTACT WITH ANY MINORS, AND SHE CAN’T LEAVE FLAGLER COUNTY. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS THREATENING RETALIATION AFTER IRAN LAUNCHED ATTACKS ON GULF STATES AND SENT DOZENS OF DRONES TOWARDS SAUDI ARABIA. THE PRESIDENT POSTING ON TRUTH SOCIAL EARLY THIS MORNING. WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE DERANGED SCUMBAGS TODAY. THEY’VE BEEN KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR 47 YEARS. AND NOW I, AS THE 47TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND KILLING THEM, WHAT A GREAT HONOR IT IS TO DO SO. NOW, THAT COMES AS THE NEW SUPREME LEADER IN IRAN IS VOWING TO KEEP THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ CLOSED AROUND A FIFTH OF THE WORLD’S OIL MOVES THROUGH THE STRAITS, SO THIS WILL OBVIOUSLY DRIVE UP OIL PRICES. ALL OF THIS, AS THE NEW SUPREME LEADER IN IRAN, IS VOWING TO KEEP THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ CLOSED. SO AGAIN, THIS WILL DRIVE UP OIL PRICES. TODAY’S AVERAGE RIGHT NOW FOR A GALLON OF GAS HERE IN FLORIDA IS AROUND $3.71 A GALLON. THAT’S EXACTLY THE SAME AS YESTERDAY. SO NO INCREASE, BUT IT’S UP $0.36 FROM JUST ONE WEEK AGO. IN THE METRO. WE ARE SEEING PRICES AT $3.74 A GALLON ON THE COAST, ANYWHERE BETWEEN 3.75 AND 3.76. A MAN ARMED WITH A RIFLE RAMMED A VEHICLE INTO THE NATION’S LARGEST REFORM SYNAGOGUE IN A DETROIT SUBURB. SO THE DRIVER RAMMED THE TRUCK RIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS AND THEN DROVE DOWN A HALLWAY. ONE SECURITY GUARD WAS RUN OVER AND KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS, BUT ANOTHER WAS ABLE TO OPEN FIRE, KILLING THE SUSPECT. THIS IS SENSELESS. IT’S SENSELESS. WE HAVE TO BE BETTER THAN THIS. THIS IS NOT OKAY. INVESTIGATORS ARE CALLING THE ATTACK A TARGETED ACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST THE JEWISH COMMUNITY. THE FBI HAS IDENTIFIED THE MAN ACCUSED OF RAMMING HIS CAR INTO THAT SYNAGOGUE. AS 41 YEAR OLD IMAN MUHAMMED ALI. NOW, SOURCES SAY THAT THE MAN’S CAR CONTAINED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A LARGE AMOUNT OF EXPLOSIVES, AND AFTER HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED, SOMETHING CAUGHT FIRE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE SUSPECT’S BODY WAS BADLY BURNED. NOW, AT LEAST 30 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SMOKE INHALATION. NO STAFF MEMBERS OR CHILDREN WERE INJURED. INVESTIGATORS HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED A MOTIVE, AND WE ARE HEARING FROM THE LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA. JASON GUY. JOINING US NOW, JASON, YOU SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. YEAH, MANY TIMES THROUGH THE YEARS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHABAD OF GREATER ORLANDO HAS TALKED TO US. THAT’S RABBI SHALOM DO BOB. AND HE SAYS THEY’VE HAD ARMED SECURITY GUARDS THERE FOR YEARS. WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO LET THE FORCES OF EVIL, THE FORCES OF NEGATIVITY, TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO STAY. RABBI DO BOB ADDED THAT ON THE HEELS OF THIS RECENT TARGETED ATTACK ON THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, SECURITY NEEDS TO BE TOP OF MIND. SO THE CHABAD OF GREATER ORLANDO, AS THEY BUILD A NEW LOCATION TO REPLACE ONE THAT WAS DAMAGED BY FIRE, THE RABBI SAYS THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE SECURITY INTO CONSIDERATION WITH EVERY ASPECT OF THE BUILDING PROCESS TO KEEP THE PARISHIONERS SAFE. BACK TO YOU, ALLEN JASON. THIS MORNING, A GUNMAN IS DEAD AND TWO PEOPLE ARE CRITICALLY INJURED FOLLOWING A SHOOTING AT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY. A STUDENT CAPTURED THIS VIDEO AS OFFICERS RUSHED TO THE SCENE YESTERDAY MORNING. OFFICIALS SAY 36 YEAR OLD MOHAMMED JALLOH TARGETED AN ROTC CLASS ON THE VIRGINIA CAMPUS. A GROUP OF STUDENTS RUSHED THE SUSPECT AFTER THEY. AFTER HE ENTERED THEIR CLASSROOM, ABOUT 1105 THIS MORNING, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY SON. WHAT HE SAID WAS THAT SOMEONE CAME INTO THE CLASSROOM AND ASKED, WAS THIS ROTC AND BEGAN SHOOTING, AT WHICH TIME HE AND HIS FELLOW CLASSMATES WENT INTO WENT INTO ACTIVE, ACTIVE PROTECTIVE MODE. SO THIS IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS AN ACT OF TERRORISM. THE SUSPECT HAD TIES TO ISIS. JALLOH PLEADED GUILTY TO PROVIDING MATERIAL SUPPORT TO ISIS IN 2017. HE WAS SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON AND RELEASED FROM CUSTODY IN 2024. ACCORDING TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. NOW, THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS RELEASED A STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE DEADLY ATTACK AT THE UNIVERSITY. TIME RIGHT NOW IS 608 IN THE BUSIEST DAYS OF THE SPRING BREAK TRAVEL PERIOD. START TODAY, MORE THAN 199,000 PEOPLE WILL PASS THROUGH ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TOMORROW. NEARLY 205,000 ON SUNDAY, ALMOST 212,000. THE TSA SAYS IT’S READY FOR MORE PEOPLE TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE AIRPORTS. HOWEVER, IT’S BEEN A MONTH SINCE AGENTS WERE PAID BECAUSE OF A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, BUT YOU CAN HELP OUT ALL OF THE INFORMATION BOOTHS HAVE DONATION BINS WHERE YOU CAN DROP OFF FOOD OR $10 GIFT CARDS. THE SLS ROCKET SUPPORTING NASA’S ARTEMIS TWO MISSION IS GETTING READY TO ROLL BACK TO THE LAUNCH PAD. WE HAVE A LIVE LOOK THIS MORNING AT THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING, WHERE CREWS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO FIX A HELIUM ISSUE ON THE ROCKET’S UPPER STAGE. THEY ARE NOW TARGETING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1ST FOR LAUNCH. ALL RIGHT. LET’S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR FORECAST TODAY BECAUSE WE MENTIONED SOME CLOUDS OUT THERE THIS MORNING. BUT THOSE ARE GOING TO BE MOVING AWAY. WARMER TEMPERATURES COMING OUR WAY. IT’S GOING TO BE LOVELY. AND THEN THE TEMPERATURES JUST COMPLETELY FALL OFF A CLIFF. WHAT HAPPENS WITH SPRING BREAK IS WHAT HAPPENED GUYS. AND IT’S LIKE WE’RE JUST GOING TO MESS WITH THE SPRING BREAKERS. WASN’T IT SPRING BREAK LAST YEAR THAT ALSO GOT A FRIGID HIT? I THINK SO LIKE MEMORY TELLS ME MY MEMORY IS NOT VERY GOOD THOUGH. WELCOME TO 40. I SUPPOSE I’M IN MY 40S FOR A WHILE NOW, BUT I DIGRESS. ALL RIGHT, LET’S LOOK BECAUSE WE’VE GOT A FRONT SOUTH OF US. THAT WAS YESTERDAY’S COLD FRONT. STILL BRINGING SHOWERS TO SOUTH FLORIDA. BUT WHAT THAT’S GOING TO END UP DOING IS BACKING UP THIS WEEKEND AND BRINGING US A WHOLE BUNCH MORE RAIN UNTIL A STRONGER FRONT MOVES IN NEXT WEEK AND DROPS THE TEMPERATURES. BUT FOR TODAY, HERE’S 10 A.M. ON FUTURECAST, A SPRINKLE OR TWO IN OUR SOUTHERN AREAS. OTHERWISE, IT’S A MIX OF CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE AND IT’S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY. I THINK THE FURTHER SOUTH YOU LIVE, THE BETTER. YOU COULD SEE A SHOWER TODAY ABOUT A 10% COVERAGE THOUGH, 75 BY LUNCHTIME AND IT’S BREEZY SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON. HIGH IN THE UPPER 70S THEN THE RAIN CHANCES RISE AND THEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP. LET’S DISCUSS IT ALL. WHEN WE LOOK AHEAD WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE FORECAST IN MINUTES. MEAGHAN. ERIC. HAPPY FRIDAY. HEADING OUT THE DOOR. THIS IS A LOOK HERE AT I-4. YOU CAN SEE FROM WINTER PARK. NO ISSUES HEADING INTO DOWNTOWN ORLANDO WAITING FOR THAT SUN TO RISE BUT NICE AND QUIET ALONG THE I-4 CORRIDOR. NO CRASHES TO DEAL WITH HERE. FROM LEE ROAD. THE WESTBOUND. BUT THERE IS A CRASH ALONG I-75 FROM LATE LAST NIGHT. THIS IS RIGHT AT 100 STREET. THIS IS IN RED, SO VERY FAR NORTH. CREWS ARE OUT THERE REPAIRING THAT GUARDRAIL. THAT’S WHY YOU’RE SEEING THAT BIG FLASHING LIGHT THERE IN THE CENTER. SO JUST BE MINDFUL OF THOSE CREWS WORKING. ALL THE LANES ARE OPEN ALONG THE I-75 CORRIDOR. NO DELAYS. YOU CAN SEE THOSE TRAVEL TIMES STILL IN THE GREEN THIS MORNING AS WELL BETWEEN JACKSON BOULEVARD AND DELTONA AND LAKE MARY. BOTH WESTBOUND AND EASTBOUND. WE’RE SITTING AT LESS THAN TEN MINUTES. AHEAD HERE ON SUNRISE, A PECULIAR CALL IN SOUTH FLORIDA. THE SHORT PURSUIT OF AN ESCAPEE. THAT’S NOTHING TO POINT AT. PLUS, ANOTHER LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT IS BATTLING FALLING ENROLLMENT. THE STATS OSCEOLA COUNTY WANTS TO TAKE BEFORE RESORTING TO CLOSING SCHOOLS. ALSO, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAPS UP TODAY, BUT LAWMAKERS HAVE YET TO DISCUSS THE

Jury awards $644M in damages to man paralyzed after fall at Winter Park bar

Updated: 7:18 AM EDT Mar 13, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

An Orange County jury has awarded a $644.7 million verdict against the owners of Park Social, a Winter Park bar, in a negligence case stemming from a 2017 incident that left a 57-year-old man a partial quadriplegic.The plaintiff, represented by the law firm Morgan & Morgan, successfully argued that the bar’s owners knowingly directed patrons to use a dangerous staircase. The verdict, totaling $644,751,855.08, followed a trial where the defense had urged jurors to award the victim and his wife nothing.>> Video above: Top headlines for March 13 in Central FloridaThe incident occurred on Nov. 25, 2017, when the plaintiff fell down a flight of approximately 20 stairs while leaving Park Social, located on the second story of a 1926-built building.During the trial, the plaintiff’s attorneys highlighted numerous safety issues with the staircase, including its narrow, steep design, a lack of grip tape on the treads and inadequate handrails. Video evidence presented showed the plaintiff descending the stairs carefully at the time of the fall.”Former employees at Park Social testified at trial that they knew how dangerous these stairs were and that patrons had fallen down them before,” said Morgan & Morgan attorney Nick Panagakis. “Park Social management also knew there was a second, safer staircase on the premises that allowed access to the bar, but designated it for employees only until the day after the catastrophic fall that paralyzed our client.”

WINTER PARK, Fla. —

An Orange County jury has awarded a $644.7 million verdict against the owners of Park Social, a Winter Park bar, in a negligence case stemming from a 2017 incident that left a 57-year-old man a partial quadriplegic.

The plaintiff, represented by the law firm Morgan & Morgan, successfully argued that the bar’s owners knowingly directed patrons to use a dangerous staircase. The verdict, totaling $644,751,855.08, followed a trial where the defense had urged jurors to award the victim and his wife nothing.

>> Video above: Top headlines for March 13 in Central Florida

The incident occurred on Nov. 25, 2017, when the plaintiff fell down a flight of approximately 20 stairs while leaving Park Social, located on the second story of a 1926-built building.

During the trial, the plaintiff’s attorneys highlighted numerous safety issues with the staircase, including its narrow, steep design, a lack of grip tape on the treads and inadequate handrails.

Video evidence presented showed the plaintiff descending the stairs carefully at the time of the fall.

“Former employees at Park Social testified at trial that they knew how dangerous these stairs were and that patrons had fallen down them before,” said Morgan & Morgan attorney Nick Panagakis. “Park Social management also knew there was a second, safer staircase on the premises that allowed access to the bar, but designated it for employees only until the day after the catastrophic fall that paralyzed our client.”