FL H6009

Appropriates $626,769.93 from the Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund to Patricia Ermini for injuries sustained due to the negligence of the Lee County Sheriff's Office during a well-being check on March 23, 2012

On the night of the incident, three LCSO deputies entered 71-year-old Ms. Ermini's dark, unlocked home while she was asleep; within two minutes of entry, Deputy Robert Hamer fired seven rounds from an AR-15 rifle through a closed bedroom door, striking Ms. Ermini in her left leg (shattering her femur), upper right arm, and head

A jury awarded Ms. Ermini $1 million in damages in January 2018, reduced to $750,000 after 75% fault was apportioned to LCSO; the Florida Sheriffs Self Insurance Fund previously paid the $200,000 statutory cap under section 768.28, Florida Statutes, leaving a remaining claim of $550,000 plus $76,769.93 in interest and court costs

Deputies Lisenbee and Hamer were terminated shortly after the incident; Ms. Ermini was arrested in the ICU on two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, which the state attorney declined to prosecute

Attorney fees are capped at 25% of the total amount awarded, and the combined statutory payment and this appropriation constitute sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the incident