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FL H6017

CL

Status

Introduced

2/24/2023

Primary Sponsor

Linda Chaney

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2023 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Pinellas County School Board is directed to pay $2.8 million to Maria Garcia, in addition to the $200,000 already paid, for injuries caused by the negligence of a school bus driver on February 13, 2019, in Clearwater
  • Maria Garcia, then a 41-year-old pedestrian, was struck and run over by a school bus driven by Patricia Gavin while crossing Curlew Road in a marked crosswalk with a green light and walk signal; the bus left the scene without the driver reporting the incident
  • Ms. Garcia sustained life-threatening injuries including broken pelvic bones, hip and spinal fractures, a collapsed lung, traumatic brain injury, nerve damage rendering her right arm immobile, and accumulated medical bills totaling $1,988,328.11
  • The Pinellas County School Board admitted liability and agreed to a $3 million Consent Judgment entered on May 16, 2022, in Pinellas County Circuit Court (Case No. 19-008530-CI)
  • Non-federal lien interests related to Ms. Garcia's care and treatment are waived and extinguished, attorney fees are capped at 25% of the amount awarded, and the total payment constitutes sole compensation for all present and future claims

Legislative Description

Relief/Maria Garcia/Pinellas County School Board

Last Action

Laid on Table; companion bill(s) passed, see SB 4 (Ch. 2023-321)

4/28/2023

Committee Referrals

Judiciary3/20/2023
Civil Justice Subcommittee3/6/2023

Full Bill Text

No bill text available