Senate Bill sb0026

    Florida Senate - 2002        (NP)                        SB 26

    By Senator Latvala





    19-32-02

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the City of Clearwater;

  3         providing for the relief of Eva Skowronek as

  4         the widow of Wieslaw Skowronek and for the

  5         relief of Anna Marie, Victor, and Hubert

  6         Alexander Skowronek, the children of Wieslaw

  7         Skowronek, for the death of Wieslaw Skowronek

  8         as a result of the negligence of the City of

  9         Clearwater; providing an effective date.

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11         WHEREAS, on Sunday, January 19, 1997, Wieslaw Skowronek

12  was visiting the Virgin Mary apparition at the Seminole

13  Finance Building in Clearwater, Florida, and

14         WHEREAS, as a result of the use of excessive force by a

15  City of Clearwater policeman, Mr. Skowronek's pancreas was

16  ruptured and he bled to death, and

17         WHEREAS, the death of Mr. Skowronek was clearly the

18  consequence of the negligence of the city, and

19         WHEREAS, the City of Clearwater and Eva Skowronek have

20  entered into a settlement agreement in which the city has

21  agreed to a settlement in the amount of $525,000, of which the

22  city will pay $200,000, Ranger Insurance Company will pay

23  $125,000, and a claim bill will be submitted for the remaining

24  $200,000, and

25         WHEREAS, the City of Clearwater has paid the $200,000,

26  which is the maximum amount allowable under section 768.28,

27  Florida Statutes, and the insurance company has paid $125,000,

28  NOW, THEREFORE,

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30  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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    Florida Senate - 2002        (NP)                        SB 26
    19-32-02




  1         Section 1.  The facts stated in the preamble to this

  2  act are found and declared to be true.

  3         Section 2.  (1)  The City of Clearwater is authorized

  4  and directed to compensate Eva Skowronek, as the widow of

  5  Wieslaw Skowronek, and their three children for the death of

  6  Wieslaw Skowronek due to the negligence of a city employee, in

  7  the following amounts:

  8         (a)  $100,000 to Eva Skowronek, as the widow of Wieslaw

  9  Skowronek;

10         (b)  $33,333.33 to Anna Marie Skowronek, age 20, as the

11  child of Wieslaw Skowronek;

12         (c)  $33,333.33 to Victor Skowronek, as the minor child

13  of Wieslaw Skowronek, to be placed in his guardianship

14  account;

15         (d)  $33,333.33 to Hubert Skowronek, as the minor child

16  of Wieslaw Skowronek, to be placed in his guardianship

17  account.

18         (2)  Amounts paid for attorney's fees and costs, as

19  limited in accordance with section 768.28, Florida Statutes,

20  shall be payable pro rata from each of the claimants.

21         Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

22  law.

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