HB 1405

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act for the relief of Stephen Hall; providing an
3appropriation to compensate him for injuries sustained as
4a result of the negligence of an employee of the
5Department of Transportation; providing an effective date.
6
7     WHEREAS, on June 30, 1997, Stephen Hall was a passenger in
8a vehicle driven by his father, Edward Hall, traveling westbound
9on State Road 500 in Brevard County, Florida, and
10     WHEREAS, David Eaker, an employee of the Department of
11Transportation, was stopped on the north shoulder of State Road
12500, headed in the same direction as the Hall vehicle, and
13     WHEREAS, as the Hall vehicle approached his vehicle, David
14Eaker pulled into the path of the Hall vehicle, resulting in a
15collision between the two vehicles, and
16     WHEREAS, Stephen Hall was injured and was transported by
17ambulance to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, where
18he was treated for multiple traumatic injuries, including
19multiple facial fractures and lacerations; multiple intra-oral
20mucosal lacerations; and orthopedic injuries to his right arm
21and shoulder, neck, and both knees, and
22     WHEREAS, as a result of the injuries, Stephen Hall was
23subjected to multiple surgeries and physical therapy, will
24likely need additional surgery for the injuries in the future,
25missed 2 years of school, has suffered from mood swings and
26depression, and has permanent facial disfigurement and
27continuing problems as a result of the injuries, and
28     WHEREAS, Stephen Hall's medical expenses total $51,586.81
29to date, and
30     WHEREAS, David Eaker was determined to be at fault and was
31charged with failure to yield the right-of-way, and
32     WHEREAS, the Halls filed suit in the Eighteenth Judicial
33Circuit, in and for Brevard County, against the Department of
34Transportation in case number 05-2001-CA-006293, and
35     WHEREAS, the parties mediated the case and reached a
36settlement of all claims, and
37     WHEREAS, the parties entered into a settlement agreement in
38which the Department of Transportation admitted liability and
39agreed to the entry of a consent judgment in the amount of
40$500,000, and
41     WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation has previously
42paid $112,000 to the claimant and agreed to affirmatively
43support a claim bill in the amount of $388,000, NOW, THEREFORE,
44
45Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
46
47     Section 1.  The facts stated in the preamble to this act
48are found and declared to be true.
49     Section 2.  The Executive Office of the Governor is
50directed to establish spending authority from unappropriated
51trust fund balances in the Department of Transportation in the
52amount of $388,000 to a new category titled "Relief: Stephen
53Hall" as relief for injuries and damages sustained, which amount
54includes attorney's fees and costs.
55     Section 3.  The Chief Financial Officer is directed to draw
56a warrant, pursuant to the Stipulated Settlement Agreement
57executed by the Department of Transportation and Stephen Hall,
58in the sum of $388,000, upon funds of the Department of
59Transportation in the State Treasury, and the Chief Financial
60Officer is directed to pay the same out of funds in the State
61Treasury.
62     Section 4.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.


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