CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    787-119AX-02                                Bill No. CS/HB 757

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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  5                                           ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW

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10  ______________________________________________________________

11  Representative(s) Paul offered the following:

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13         Amendment (with title amendment) 

14         On page 25, between lines 8 and 9,

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16  insert:

17         Section 3.  Section 73.0615, Florida Statutes, is

18  created to read:

19         73.0615  Acquisition of road right-of-way; bad faith.--

20         (1)  In the event that a condemnor or its agents engage

21  in bad faith during negotiations or litigation, the condemnee

22  may file a motion seeking sanctions which shall include a

23  monetary award to be determined by the court which award may

24  not be avoided by claims of sovereign immunity. Additionally,

25  the condemnee shall be entitled to recover all costs and

26  damages, including reasonable attorney's fees, associated with

27  the condemnor's bad faith conduct and the proceedings

28  resulting therefrom. "Bad faith" shall include, but not be

29  limited to, the following conduct:

30         (a)  Misleading an owner with any false information

31  regarding project design, impacts, property valuation, or

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    File original & 9 copies    03/12/02
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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    787-119AX-02                                Bill No. CS/HB 757

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1  valuation standards.

  2         (b)  Coercing an owner to accept payment for his or her

  3  property rights in return for the owner agreeing not to

  4  procure advice from consultants.

  5         (c)  Failing to tender a good faith response, within a

  6  reasonable time, to a request by the condemnee that the

  7  expenses of an owner's consultants be paid. For the purposes

  8  of this section, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that

  9  30 days is a reasonable time for such response.

10         (d)  Making offers of settlement, in mediation forums

11  or otherwise, that are in any way contingent upon the

12  condemnee waiving or compromising its rights to seek recovery

13  of all fees otherwise entitled to by statute, including

14  consultant fees or statutory attorney's fees.

15         (2)  If the court determines that the condemnor engaged

16  in any of the conduct identified in subsection (1) or other

17  conduct which the court considers bad faith, then the court

18  must issue an order that includes the sanctions identified in

19  subsection (1).

20         (3)  In addition to all other provisions of this

21  section, if the court determines that the condemnor's attorney

22  engaged in the conduct identified in paragraph (1)(d), the

23  clerk of the court shall transmit notice of the conduct to The

24  Florida Bar, which shall provide a report of disciplinary

25  proceedings against the attorney within 180 days thereafter.

26  The court's order shall include the following statement:

27         "This court has determined that _____, a member

28         of The Florida Bar, engaged in conduct

29         specifically identified by the Florida

30         Legislature as constituting "bad faith." This

31         order shall be transmitted by the Clerk of this

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    File original & 9 copies    03/12/02
    hbd0016                     03:47 pm         00757-0071-675179




                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

    787-119AX-02                                Bill No. CS/HB 757

    Amendment No. 1 (for drafter's use only)





  1         court to The Florida Bar for disciplinary

  2         proceedings. Pursuant to s. 73.0615, Florida

  3         Statutes, please provide your report of such

  4         proceedings to this court and all counsel of

  5         record in this matter within 180 days, said

  6         counsel being listed below."

  7         (4)  In addition to all other remedies, the offer of

  8  judgment described in s. 73.032(3) may be made by a defendant

  9  as to requests that the condemnor tender payment for the

10  reasonable fees of defendants' consultants, including, but not

11  limited to, appraisers, planners, engineers, business damage

12  consultants, and attorneys.

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15  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

16  And the title is amended as follows:

17         On page 1, line 17, after "actions;"

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19  insert:

20         creating s. 73.0615, F.S.; providing penalties

21         with respect to bad faith concerning the

22         acquisition of road right-of-way; defining the

23         term "bad faith";

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    File original & 9 copies    03/12/02
    hbd0016                     03:47 pm         00757-0071-675179