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SB 8 — Relief of Marcus Button by the Pasco County School Board
by Senator Simon
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Special Master on Claim Bills Committee (SM)
The bill authorizes and directs the Pasco County School Board (PCSB) to appropriate from funds of the school board not otherwise encumbered and pay $1 million to a trust for the sole and exclusive benefit of Marcus Button as compensation for harms and losses he sustained due to the negligence of an employee of the PCSB in a vehicle crash that occurred on September 22, 2006, between a PCSB school bus and the vehicle in which Marcus Button was a passenger.
The bill also authorizes and directs the PCSB to appropriate $200,000 to Robin Button, as the surviving parent and natural guardian of Marcus Button, as compensation for harms and losses sustained by her and Mark Button, now deceased, for the injuries to Marcus Button. The PCSB did not appeal the trial court judgment ordering the PCSB to pay $1,380,967.39 to Marcus Button and $289,396.85 to his parents. The PCSB has paid $163,000 of the $200,000 statutory limit applicable at the time the claim arose, to Marcus Button and to his parents. The parties have agreed to a total settlement in the amount of $1.2 million to relieve, forever and completely, the PCSB of any and all further responsibility regarding the vehicle crash.
The total amount paid for attorney fees relating to this claim may not exceed 25 percent of the total amounts awarded under this bill.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor?s signature, these provisions take effect upon becoming law.
Vote: Senate 35-0; House 116-0