FL H1167

On June 30, 2008, Carl Abbott, age 67, was struck by a school bus driven by a Palm Beach County School District employee while crossing a street in a designated crosswalk, sustaining a closed-head injury, traumatic brain injury, subdural hematoma, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Carl Abbott now resides in a nursing home with loss of cognitive function, right-sided paralysis, immobility, urinary and bowel incontinence, delirium, inability to speak, and requires nutrition through a feeding tube.

Palm Beach County School Board shall appropriate and pay $211,111.11 annually for fiscal years 2013-2020, and $211,111.12 in fiscal year 2021, totaling $1,900,000, payable to David Abbott as guardian of Carl Abbott.

Payments shall cease upon Carl Abbott's death, but the guardian is guaranteed a minimum payment of $633,333.33 (three annual payments) if Carl Abbott dies within 3 years of the act's effective date.

Attorney fees, lobbying fees, costs, and similar expenses relating to this claim may not exceed 25 percent of the total $1,900,000 award.