HB 0817 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to Hillsborough County; providing for the
3	relief of James T. Edwards; providing for an appropriation
4	to compensate him for injuries suffered as a result of the
5	negligence of Hillsborough County; providing an effective
6	date.
7
8	WHEREAS, in an incident occurring on May 31, 1997, James T.
9	Edwards was severely and permanently injured as a result of the
10	negligence of Hillsborough County, in that the county failed to
11	immobilize James T. Edwards' head, neck, and spine while
12	transporting him to the hospital, and
13	WHEREAS, as a result of that negligence, James T. Edwards
14	sustained injuries to his spinal cord which have resulted in
15	complete and permanent paralysis to his legs, and
16	WHEREAS, James T. Edwards instituted a lawsuit against
17	Hillsborough County as a result of such injuries, which lawsuit
18	was scheduled to be tried beginning August 5, 2002, and
19	WHEREAS, before commencement of the trial, James T. Edwards
20	and Hillsborough County entered into a settlement agreement in
21	the amount of $2,500,000 under which the county would pay to
22	Edwards $100,000 and support the passage of a claim bill to
23	provide for payment of the balance of the settlement amount,
24	NOW, THEREFORE,
25
26	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
27
28	Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act
29	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
32	funds of the county not otherwise appropriated and to draw a
33	warrant in the sum of $2,400,000, which amount includes
34	statutory attorney's fees and costs, payable to James T. Edwards
35	as compensation for injuries suffered as a result of the
36	negligence of Hillsborough County.
37	Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.