In a dramatic legal battle unfolding in Pinellas County, Florida, a resident is seeking justice after a collision on the water left him injured and his sailboat damaged. Michael J. Auton filed a complaint against Paul C. Debunza in the Circuit Court for Pinellas County on November 21, 2024, alleging negligence that resulted in personal injuries and property damage.

The incident at the heart of this case occurred on February 26, 2023, when Auton was sailing his Hobie Catamaran near Archie’s Island. The plaintiff claims he was navigating safely when Debunza’s large powerboat struck his vessel at high speed without warning. According to the complaint, Auton did not see Debunza’s boat before the collision, which submerged his sailboat and caused significant injuries to his leg and back.

Auton’s legal team argues that Debunza failed to adhere to established maritime navigation rules, including failing to maintain a proper lookout and operating at an unsafe speed in a congested channel. “Defendant’s powerboat struck Plaintiff’s sailboat at an excessive and high rate of speed without slowing down,” the complaint states. Witnesses corroborated these claims by observing Debunza’s reckless operation of his vessel and reporting it to the police.