FL H0179

Authorizes the University of South Florida to appropriate and pay $1.8 million to Stephen and Meredith Kirby as compensation for negligence in genetic counseling

A University of South Florida physician negligently informed the Kirbys in October 2006 that they had no risk of having a child with cystic fibrosis, despite both being cystic fibrosis gene carriers

The Kirbys conceived based on this negligent advice and their daughter Harper was born on August 22, 2007, with cystic fibrosis requiring lifelong medical care

The University of South Florida had already paid $200,000 under statutory liability limits; this bill provides an additional $1.8 million as full settlement of all claims related to the wrongful birth

Attorney's fees, lobbying fees, and related expenses are capped at 25 percent of the $1.8 million award