1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act for the relief of Stephen Hall; providing an |
3 | appropriation to compensate him for injuries sustained as |
4 | a result of the negligence of an employee of the |
5 | Department of Transportation; providing an effective date. |
6 |
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7 | WHEREAS, on June 30, 1997, Stephen Hall was a passenger in |
8 | a vehicle driven by his father, Edward Hall, traveling westbound |
9 | on State Road 500 in Brevard County, Florida, and |
10 | WHEREAS, David Eaker, an employee of the Department of |
11 | Transportation, was stopped on the north shoulder of State Road |
12 | 500, headed in the same direction as the Hall vehicle, and |
13 | WHEREAS, as the Hall vehicle approached his vehicle, David |
14 | Eaker pulled into the path of the Hall vehicle, resulting in a |
15 | collision between the two vehicles, and |
16 | WHEREAS, Stephen Hall was injured and was transported by |
17 | ambulance to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, where |
18 | he was treated for multiple traumatic injuries, including |
19 | multiple facial fractures and lacerations; multiple intra-oral |
20 | mucosal lacerations; and orthopedic injuries to his right arm |
21 | and shoulder, neck, and both knees, and |
22 | WHEREAS, as a result of the injuries, Stephen Hall was |
23 | subjected to multiple surgeries and physical therapy, will |
24 | likely need additional surgery for the injuries in the future, |
25 | missed 2 years of school, has suffered from mood swings and |
26 | depression, and has permanent facial disfigurement and |
27 | continuing problems as a result of the injuries, and |
28 | WHEREAS, Stephen Hall's medical expenses total $51,586.81 |
29 | to date, and |
30 | WHEREAS, David Eaker was determined to be at fault and was |
31 | charged with failure to yield the right-of-way, and |
32 | WHEREAS, the Halls filed suit in the Eighteenth Judicial |
33 | Circuit, in and for Brevard County, against the Department of |
34 | Transportation in case number 05-2001-CA-006293, and |
35 | WHEREAS, the parties mediated the case and reached a |
36 | settlement of all claims, and |
37 | WHEREAS, the parties entered into a settlement agreement in |
38 | which the Department of Transportation admitted liability and |
39 | agreed to the entry of a consent judgment in the amount of |
40 | $500,000, and |
41 | WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation has previously |
42 | paid $112,000 to the claimant and agreed to affirmatively |
43 | support a claim bill in the amount of $388,000, NOW, THEREFORE, |
44 |
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45 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
46 |
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47 | Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act |
48 | are found and declared to be true. |
49 | Section 2. The Executive Office of the Governor is |
50 | directed to establish spending authority from unappropriated |
51 | trust fund balances in the Department of Transportation in the |
52 | amount of $388,000 to a new category titled "Relief: Stephen |
53 | Hall" as relief for injuries and damages sustained, which amount |
54 | includes attorney's fees and costs. |
55 | Section 3. The Chief Financial Officer is directed to draw |
56 | a warrant, pursuant to the Stipulated Settlement Agreement |
57 | executed by the Department of Transportation and Stephen Hall, |
58 | in the sum of $388,000, upon funds of the Department of |
59 | Transportation in the State Treasury, and the Chief Financial |
60 | Officer is directed to pay the same out of funds in the State |
61 | Treasury. |
62 | Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |