Politically estranged friends settle election bet lawsuit
March 19, 2021 - The highly contentious 2020 presidential election strained many relationships, but perhaps none more so than that of St. Petersburg resident Sean Hynes and his friend Jeffrey Costa of Atlanta. Costa, a Joe Biden supporter, bet Hynes, a Donald Trump supporter, $100 that Biden would win the election. Hynes reneged on the bet, believing Trump’s rhetoric that the election results would be overturned. In December, Costa sued Hynes in Pinellas County small claims court, requesting the $100 he was owed plus $250 in court costs and $300 in interest. At a March 10 hearing, the two settled their beef, with Hynes agreeing to pay Costa $100 plus $215 in court costs, but according to terms of the deal, Costa must return the money if the election results are overturned by Sept. 10.