FL H3549

Miami-Dade County is directed to appropriate $470,000 each to Monica Cantillo Acosta and Luis Alberto Cantillo Acosta, totaling $940,000, 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 suddenly braked, causing her to fall and strike her head, resulting in severe brain damage.

A Miami-Dade County jury found the bus driver 100 percent negligent in 2007 and determined damages of $3 million for each child; the parties subsequently settled for $1.14 million.

The settlement combined with Miami-Dade County's previous $200,000 payment under statutory liability limits constitutes the sole compensation for all claims arising from Ms. Acosta's death.

Attorney fees, lobbying fees, costs, and similar expenses relating to this claim are capped at 25 percent of the total amount awarded under the act.