FL S0090

Appropriates $296,400 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Families for payment to Michael Barnett, individually and as parent/legal guardian of R.B., for injuries and damages resulting from the department's negligence

In September 2010, Patrick Dell fatally shot his estranged wife Natasha Whyte-Dell and four of her children and severely wounded a fifth child (R.B.) at their Riviera Beach home before committing suicide

The Department of Children and Families had investigated a January 2010 abuse hotline report involving Dell threatening Whyte-Dell with a knife but closed the case in February 2010, concluding the children were not at significant risk, despite 34 police responses to the home over 4 years, including 11 for domestic violence

The department's own regional director acknowledged the investigation was "subpar," and the assigned child protective investigator failed to follow policies and procedures while himself facing pending domestic violence charges, creating an inherent conflict of interest

Attorney fees are capped at 25 percent of the total amount awarded, and the combined sovereign immunity payment under s. 768.28 and this appropriation constitute sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the incident