FL S0064

Appropriates $5 million to Ricardo Medrano-Arzate and Eva Chavez-Medrano as personal representatives of their daughter Hilda Medrano, who was killed in a December 1, 2013 vehicle collision with an Okeechobee County Sheriff's Deputy.

Deputy Joseph Gracie was traveling over 95 mph in a 35 mph zone without emergency lights or sirens when his patrol vehicle struck the passenger side of the vehicle at 87 mph, killing Hilda Medrano and her cousin and injuring another passenger.

A jury awarded $5 million in damages after finding Deputy Gracie 88.5 percent liable, a decision affirmed by the Fourth District Court of Appeal; the internal affairs investigation found his actions violated four operating procedures.

Designates the $5 million payment as sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the incident, with attorney fees capped at 25 percent of the awarded amount.

Takes effect upon becoming law.