FL H1161

Appropriates $800,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) to compensate L.T., a minor, for injuries sustained due to negligence by DCF employees who placed her in a foster home with a known sex offender and failed to adequately supervise her care from 1995 onward.

DCF removed 14-month-old L.T. from her mother's custody in August 1995 and placed her with great aunt and uncle Vicki and Eddie Thomas; despite Mr. Thomas being charged in 1996 with lewd and lascivious acts on a 13-year-old child, pleading no contest, and registering as a sex offender, DCF recommended continued and then long-term placement of L.T. in the home.

L.T. ran away from the Thomases' home on February 24, 2005, and disclosed sexual abuse by Mr. Thomas (October–December 2004) and physical abuse by Ms. Thomas, after which DCF removed her and placed her with her maternal aunt.

The $800,000 represents the remaining balance of a $1 million mediated settlement reached on June 21, 2010, between L.T.'s guardian and DCF, of which $200,000 had already been paid; funds are to be deposited into a special needs trust for L.T.'s exclusive benefit.

Attorney's fees, lobbying fees, costs, and other similar expenses related to the claim may not exceed 25% of the total amount awarded under the act.