FL H6513

Authorizes the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office to pay $5 million to Ricardo Medrano-Arzate and Eva Chavez-Medrano as compensation for the death of their daughter Hilda Medrano resulting from a vehicle collision caused by Deputy Joseph Gracie's reckless driving on December 1, 2013.

Deputy Gracie was driving a police cruiser at 87-95 mph in a 35 mph zone on State Road 70 without activating emergency lights or sirens when he struck the vehicle carrying Hilda Medrano, killing her and her cousin and severely injuring a third person.

A jury found Deputy Gracie 88.5 percent liable for the collision and awarded $5 million in damages; this decision was affirmed by the Fourth District Court of Appeal.

The payment constitutes sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from this incident, with attorney fees capped at 25 percent of the awarded amount.

The act takes effect upon becoming law.