Florida Senate - 2017                                      SB 50
       
       
        
       By Senator Gibson
       
       6-00052-17                                              201750__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act for the relief of Eddie Weekley and Charlotte
    3         Williams, individually and as co-personal
    4         representatives of the Estate of Franklin Weekley,
    5         their deceased son, for the disappearance and death of
    6         their son while he was in the care of the Marianna
    7         Sunland Center, currently operated by the Agency for
    8         Persons with Disabilities; providing an appropriation
    9         to compensate them for the disappearance and death of
   10         Franklin Weekley, which were due to the negligence of
   11         the Department of Children and Families; providing a
   12         limitation on the payment of fees and costs; providing
   13         an effective date.
   14  
   15         WHEREAS, in November of 2001, Franklin Weekley was
   16  diagnosed with mental retardation and a seizure disorder and was
   17  admitted to the Marianna Sunland Center, which at the time was
   18  operated by the Department of Children and Family Services, now
   19  known as Department of Children and Families, and
   20         WHEREAS, on December 6, 2002, Franklin Weekley disappeared
   21  from the center and, following a search of the premises by
   22  employees of the center, was deemed by the center to have run
   23  away, and the case was closed, and
   24         WHEREAS, on October 28, 2004, a demolition crew found the
   25  skeletal remains of Franklin Weekley in the basement of a
   26  building adjacent to the premises of the Marianna Sunland Center
   27  where Franklin had resided, and
   28         WHEREAS, legal action was filed on behalf of Franklin
   29  Weekly’s parents against the Department of Children and Family
   30  Services and its employees or agents raising negligence, tort,
   31  statutory, and civil rights claims concerning the disappearance
   32  and death of their son, and
   33         WHEREAS, the parties and the Agency for Persons with
   34  Disabilities, which currently operates the Marianna Sunland
   35  Center, mediated and reached a settlement of all claims, and
   36         WHEREAS, the plaintiffs and the Agency for Persons with
   37  Disabilities entered into a compromise and settlement agreement
   38  in which they agreed to a claim bill under which the agency will
   39  pay $1 million in addition to the $300,000 it previously paid to
   40  settle claims arising out of this matter, NOW, THEREFORE,
   41  
   42  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   43  
   44         Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act are
   45  found and declared to be true.
   46         Section 2. The sum of $1 million is appropriated from the
   47  General Revenue Fund to the Agency for Persons with
   48  Disabilities, as successor to the Department of Children and
   49  Family Services, to be paid for the relief of Eddie Weekley and
   50  Charlotte Williams, individually and as co-personal
   51  representatives of the Estate of Franklin Weekley, deceased.
   52         Section 3. The Chief Financial Officer is directed to draw
   53  a warrant in favor of Eddie Weekley and Charlotte Williams,
   54  individually and as co-personal representatives of the Estate of
   55  Franklin Weekley, deceased, in the sum of $1 million upon funds
   56  of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities in the State
   57  Treasury, and to pay the same out of such funds in the State
   58  Treasury.
   59         Section 4. The amount paid by the Agency for Persons with
   60  Disabilities pursuant to s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, and the
   61  amount awarded under this act are intended to provide the sole
   62  compensation for all present and future claims arising out of
   63  the factual situation described in this act resulting in the
   64  disappearance and death of Franklin Weekley. The total amount
   65  paid for attorney fees, lobbying fees, costs, and other similar
   66  expenses relating to this claim may not exceed 25 percent of the
   67  amount awarded under this act.
   68         Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.