FL H6539

Volusia County Beach Patrol employee Thomas Moderie negligently struck Erin Joynt with a county Ford F-150 pickup truck while she was sunbathing on Daytona Beach on July 31, 2011, causing severe injuries including cranial fractures, facial paralysis, and permanent hearing loss.

A jury awarded Joynt $2.6 million in compensatory damages in June 2014; a final judgment of $2 million was entered against Volusia County on January 12, 2016, with the county having already paid $85,000 under statutory liability limits.

Volusia County is authorized to appropriate $727,400 from county funds or its liability insurance coverage to be paid to Erin Joynt as compensation for her injuries and damages.

The combined payments from the county ($85,000 previously paid plus $727,400 under this act) constitute sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the incident.

Attorney fees are capped at $152,754, lobbying fees at $29,096, and costs and expenses at $74,094.75 from the $727,400 appropriation.