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Week in review

By Times Staff Writer
Published March 20, 2005

JURY AWARDS $1.2-MILLION IN CHAMBERLAIN TEEN'S DEATH: A Hillsborough Circuit Court jury on Monday ordered 717 Parking Services Inc. to pay Valerie and Paul Hayes $1.2-million in damages resulting from the death of their 16-year-old son Kevin.

Kevin, a Chamberlain High School junior, honor student and football player, was shot dead on July 20, 2000. At the time of the shooting, the company operated the lot across the street from the Garage nightclub, 801 E Whiting St., where the youth had been clubbing.

The six-member jury found four different parties to be negligent in Hayes' death and divided the blame. It found the parking services company to be 20 percent negligent; the nightclub, 40 percent; Paul Hayes, 15 percent; and Valerie Hayes, 25 percent.

Only 717 was named as a defendant in the lawsuit, which Paul Hayes filed on behalf of his son's estate, seeking $10-million in damages, $5-million each for him and his wife.

Hayes was an unintended victim in July 2000. A group of men at the Garage nightclub had argued over car rims. Later, outside the club, Jose Fabian Santiago, then 19, began firing a .38-caliber gun, killing Hayes and injuring another man. Santiago, found guilty of murder, was sentenced to life in prison.

During the trial, attorneys for Paul Hayes argued that 717 failed to provide adequate security, such as guards, lighting and other reasonable measures, to help prevent such a crime.

Defense attorneys repeatedly characterized Santiago as "undeterred and unpreventable," arguing that such security measures wouldn't have prevented Hayes' murder.

SCHOOL BUS CRASH IN LUTZ: Four students were taken to area hospitals Monday morning after a minor accident involving their school bus and a car. But Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley said the hospital visits were a precaution; the students were mostly complaining of pain where their seat belts rubbed up against them during the collision.

The accident happened about 8 a.m. at Debuel and Willow Creek roads in the Lutz area. Yeakley said neither driver was hurt in the crash.

TEMPLE TERRACE PROJECT PRICEY: A new financial analysis doubles the estimated cost of rebuilding the southeast corner of Busch Boulevard and N 56th Street, the cornerstone of Temple Terrace's planned redevelopment, from $150-million to $300-million.

Although a developer will pick up most of the tab, city taxpayers may have to fork over up to $60-million, the study says. The initial figure was $30-million.

The major reasons are rising construction costs and interest rates. "It's a lot, there's no question about it," Mayor Joe Affronti Sr. said.

So far, city officials don't appear fazed. That's because the project's developer will pay Temple Terrace for the rights to develop the property. As for the taxpayer share, officials think expected tax revenues can cover the bill, which would be spread over a number of years.

An essential element is a proposed referendum that would ask residents to approve a tax increase of up to 1 mill to finance construction of roads, parking and new buildings.

A mill is equal to $1 of property taxes per year for every $1,000 of assessed property valuation. Another mill of taxes in Temple Terrace would raise from $17-million to $20-million.

The city began buying properties in the target area two years ago to try to control future development. Officials have spent about $20-million in taxpayer money to date.

[Last modified March 19, 2005, 08:39:05]