FL S0052

Miami-Dade County is authorized to pay $470,000 each to Monica Cantillo Acosta and Luis Alberto Cantillo Acosta as compensation for the wrongful death of their mother, Nhora Acosta.

Nhora Acosta died on November 13, 2004, from injuries sustained when a Miami-Dade County bus driver negligently caused sudden braking that made her fall and strike her head, resulting in severe brain damage.

A Miami-Dade County jury found the bus driver 100 percent negligent in November 2007 and determined damages of $3 million for each child; the parties subsequently settled for $1,140,000 total.

Miami-Dade County previously paid $200,000 under statutory liability limits, and this act provides an additional $940,000 ($470,000 per child) as full compensation for all claims arising from this incident.

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