Bill Text: FL S0006 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade County

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-08-02 - Filed [S0006 Detail]

Download: Florida-2025-S0006-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2025                               (NP)    SB 6
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       40-00078-25                                              20256__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act for the relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade
    3         County; providing for an appropriation to compensate
    4         Jose Correa for injuries sustained as a result of the
    5         negligence of an employee of Miami-Dade County;
    6         providing a limitation on compensation and the payment
    7         of certain fees; providing an effective date.
    8  
    9         WHEREAS, on December 16, 2021, Jose Correa was lawfully
   10  walking across Bird Road, SW 40th Street, within the marked
   11  crosswalk at the intersection of Bird Road and Le Jeune Road, SW
   12  42nd Avenue, in Miami-Dade County, and
   13         WHEREAS, a Miami-Dade County bus driver failed to observe
   14  Mr. Correa and made a left-hand turn at the intersection,
   15  causing a collision between the bus and Mr. Correa, and
   16         WHEREAS, Mr. Correa has alleged, through a lawsuit filed on
   17  July 21, 2022, in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial
   18  Circuit, that the negligence of Miami-Dade County, through its
   19  bus driver, was the proximate cause of Mr. Correa’s injuries,
   20  and
   21         WHEREAS, Mr. Correa suffered personal injuries resulting in
   22  significant pain and anguish, including a below-knee amputation,
   23  and will continue to suffer pain and anguish for the remainder
   24  of his life, and
   25         WHEREAS, since the incident, Mr. Correa has incurred
   26  considerable medical care and treatment costs related to his
   27  injuries, and he will require such care and treatment for the
   28  remainder of his life, and
   29         WHEREAS, following the filing of the lawsuit, Mr. Correa
   30  and Miami-Dade County reached a settlement agreement in the
   31  amount of $4.3 million, and
   32         WHEREAS, pursuant to that settlement agreement and the
   33  limits of liability set forth in s. 768.28, Florida Statutes,
   34  the settlement agreement will be partially satisfied by Miami
   35  Dade County in the amount of $200,000, and the satisfaction of
   36  the remainder is contingent upon the passage of a claim bill in
   37  the amount of $4.1 million, NOW, THEREFORE,
   38  
   39  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   40  
   41         Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act are
   42  found and declared to be true.
   43         Section 2. Miami-Dade County is authorized and directed to
   44  appropriate from funds not otherwise encumbered and to draw a
   45  warrant in the sum of $4.1 million payable to Jose Correa as
   46  compensation for injuries and damages sustained.
   47         Section 3. The amount paid by Miami-Dade County pursuant to
   48  s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, and the amount awarded under this
   49  act are intended to provide the sole compensation for all
   50  present and future claims arising out of the factual situation
   51  described in this act which resulted in injuries and damages to
   52  Jose Correa. The total amount paid for attorney fees and
   53  lobbying fees relating to this claim may not exceed 25 percent
   54  of the total amount awarded under this act.
   55         Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.