Stavros Floros Survivor Greece Lawsuit: Contestant Sues Over Leg Amputation

• Stavros Floros, a contestant on "Survivor Greece," lost his leg in a boating accident while spearfishing during production in the Dominican Republic.
• He has filed a 61-page lawsuit in Miami-Dade County against producers, including Acun Medya and Skai Television, seeking over $100 million in damages.
• The lawsuit alleges producer negligence, civil conspiracy, and maritime law violations, claiming inadequate safety measures in heavily trafficked waters.
• Floros also accuses producers of attempting to cover up the incident, including providing drugs to contestants and pressuring a false document signing.
• The suit is filed in Florida due to Acun Medya owner Acun Ilicali's Miami ties and his alleged role in safety decisions from Miami Beach.

Floros further contends that the safety equipment provided was inadequate, specifically noting that the surface marker buoy supplied by producers stood only two to three feet above the water, rendering it insufficient to alert boat operators to a diver's presence.

Stavros Floros, a participant on "Survivor Greece," has initiated a lawsuit against the show's producers following a severe boating accident that resulted in the amputation of his leg. The incident occurred on May 11 while Floros was spearfishing for sustenance off the coast of the Dominican Republic, a requirement of the reality competition's format. His leg was severed above the knee by a tour boat's propellers, leading to immediate and life-altering consequences.

Following the accident, occupants of the tour boat pulled Floros aboard and applied a tourniquet before transporting him to a local medical facility. He was subsequently transferred to a hospital in Miami-Dade County for specialized care. The injury necessitated multiple surgeries and a two-month hospital stay, ultimately leading to the shutdown of production for the show's 13th season. Despite the severity of his injuries, producers awarded Floros the season's $291,000 grand prize.

In a 61-page lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County, Floros accuses the production companies, including Turkish media company Acun Medya and its subsidiaries, along with Greek television station Skai Television, of gross negligence. He claims producers failed to adequately protect contestants from boat traffic in the waters where they were required to spearfish, despite these areas being heavily frequented by tourist vessels near Bayahibe, Dominican Republic. The lawsuit alleges a lack of essential safety measures, such as safety boats, spotters, protected zones, or sufficient warning markers, despite Floros's assertion of prior near-misses and even a previous fatality in the same waters.

Floros further contends that the safety equipment provided was inadequate, specifically noting that the surface marker buoy supplied by producers stood only two to three feet above the water, rendering it insufficient to alert boat operators to a diver's presence. He counters Acun Medya's earlier statement to the Toronto Sun, which suggested Floros was spearfishing without a surface marker buoy, by highlighting the producers' alleged negligence in permitting spearfishing in known high-traffic areas. The lawsuit also points to a 2023 incident where a 15-year-old girl was killed in nearby waters after being struck by a boat, underscoring the known dangers.

The lawsuit seeks more than $100 million in damages, asserting claims of negligence, civil conspiracy, and violations of maritime law. Floros's complaint also details alleged attempts by producers to cover up the accident and avoid liability. He claims that after his injury, producers tried to continue filming and provided contestants with cocaine and marijuana, purportedly to "calm and settle the cast." Additionally, Floros alleges that producers attempted to pressure another contestant into signing a document falsely stating that the competition had concluded before his injury, an attempt which was reportedly refused.

The decision to file the lawsuit in Florida stems from the longstanding ties of Acun Medya owner Acun Ilicali to Miami. Floros asserts that Ilicali, who also owns Premier League soccer club Hull City, made critical decisions regarding the show's safety protocols from his residence in Miami Beach. Acun Medya has not yet responded to requests for comment, and Skai Television could not be reached for comment regarding the ongoing litigation.

This case highlights significant liability risks for media production companies, especially those operating in international, high-risk environments. Legal counsel and compliance officers for production houses should review safety protocols, insurance coverage, and incident response plans to mitigate potential negligence, civil conspiracy, and maritime law claims arising from participant injuries.

Source: Original reporting via Courthouse News