Senate Bill sb0030

    Florida Senate - 2003        (NP)  (Corrected Copy)      SB 30

    By Senator Crist





    12-30A-03

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to Hillsborough County;

  3         providing for the relief of James T. Edwards

  4         for injuries suffered as a result of negligence

  5         by the county; providing an effective date.

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  7         WHEREAS, in an incident occurring on May 31, 1997,

  8  James T. Edwards was severely and permanently injured as a

  9  result of the negligence of Hillsborough County, in that the

10  county failed to immobilize Edwards' head, neck, and spine

11  while transporting Edwards to the hospital, and

12         WHEREAS, as a result of that negligence, James T.

13  Edwards sustained injuries to his spinal cord which have

14  resulted in complete and permanent paralysis to his legs, and

15         WHEREAS, James T. Edwards instituted a lawsuit against

16  Hillsborough County as a result of such injuries, which

17  lawsuit was scheduled to be tried beginning August 5, 2002,

18  and

19         WHEREAS, before commencement of the trial, James T.

20  Edwards and Hillsborough County entered into a settlement

21  agreement in the amount of $2,500,000 under which the county

22  would pay to Edwards $100,000 and support the passage of a

23  claim bill to provide for payment of the balance of the

24  settlement amount, NOW, THEREFORE,

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

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

29  act are found and declared to be true.

30         Section 2.  The Hillsborough County Board of County

31  Commissioners is authorized and directed to appropriate from

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    Florida Senate - 2003        (NP)  (Corrected Copy)      SB 30
    12-30A-03




 1  funds of the county not otherwise appropriated, and to draw a

 2  warrant in the sum of, $2,400,000, which amount includes

 3  statutory attorney's fees and costs, payable to James T.

 4  Edwards as compensation for injuries suffered by him as a

 5  result of the negligence of Hillsborough County.

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

 7  law.

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