By ELAINE SILVESTRINI
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA Multimillionaire real estate investor Steven Green remains in a coma nearly three weeks after he was hit by a car in New York and is considered “likely to die” from severe head trauma, according to documents on file in U.S. District Court.

The notorious landlord, once considered one of Hillsborough County’s worst, was sentenced in February to 33 months in federal prison on charges of tax evasion and fraud. U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew gave him until June 28 to report to prison, and later extended the reporting deadline until July 7.

His attorney, Louis E. Cherico, filed a motion today asking Bucklew to extend the reporting date another 90 days and then review Green’s medical condition to consider another extension.

In support of the motion, Cherico included a police report that describes Green: “severe head trauma likely to die.”

Cherico also included a letter from Dr. Joseph DeMattia of St. Vincent’s Hospital, where Green was taken after the accident. The letter, dated May 17, says Green “remains in an unresponsive state.”

It also says Green was taken to the operating room the day of the accident for a “craniotomy and evacuation of a hematoma.”

“I have personally observed Mr. Green almost daily since the accident and can attest that he remains in a non-induced coma,” Cherico wrote in his motion, “I last visited Mr. Green’s room May 28, 2007, (yesterday) at 5:00 p.m.”

He also writes that doctors “are unable to determine at this time what Mr. Green’s physical and mental condition will be when and if he awakens from the coma.”

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