FL S0178

District School Board of Sumter County is directed to pay Donald Brown $900,000 immediately from available school board funds and insurance proceeds.

School board must pay an additional $50,000 annually from July 1, 2013 through July 1, 2022 (10 payments totaling $500,000) for combined total compensation of $1,400,000.

Payment compensates Brown for injuries sustained in an October 18, 2004 motorcycle accident caused by negligent operation of a school bus driven by employee Patsy C. Foxworth, resulting in amputation of his right leg below the knee.

A jury awarded Brown $2,941,240.60 in damages, later reduced to $2,651,375.83 by circuit court judgment affirmed on appeal; the school board previously paid $100,000 under state liability limits.

Attorney fees, lobbying fees, and costs cannot exceed 15 percent of the first $1,000,000 awarded and 10 percent of the remainder ($190,000 total), though taxable costs from the underlying civil action may be collected separately.