Topic: Claims Bills

The House Select Committee on Claims Bills passed on a measure reworking the claims bill process in an attempt to encourage more local governments to get insurance. ... Related Research: House Select Committee on Claim Bills meeting materials, and meeting video.

A proposed committee bill would increase sovereign immunity caps on local governments to $3 million for individuals and $4.5 million per incident, but leave the current $300,000 cap intact for the state government. ... Related Research: Meeting materials and video.

Relief bills are the first to be filed, by an Aug. 1 deadline under Senate rules. The Florida Constitution provides sovereign immunity to state and local governments but it also allows that immunity from civil or criminal suits to be waived by the Legislature, said former Rep. Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte. ... Related Research: The 19 claim bills filed for the 2013 legislative session, rules pertaining to claim bills, and list of claim bills from the 2012 session.

Most respondents to last week's poll about claims bills agreed with that assessment. More than 60 percent agreed that it's an uneven process relying too much on highly paid advocates and that there should be a uniform process. Less that 40 percent agreed that because the cases are unique, the awards should be decided on their own merits.

Aside from the claims bill for Eric Brody, severely injured by a speeding Broward County Sheriff, the governor signed bills for awards to Aaron Edwards and the parents Rachel Hoffman. Edwards suffered brain injuries during his birth in a public hospital and Hoffman died as a confidential informant for Tallahassee police in a drug case.

Here's what passed, what failed and what you need to know about issues affecting justice and courts. Attempts to privatize prisons failed, but the final state budget that was approved would close six prisons across the state but spare the rural Jefferson Correctional Institution.

The bills concern the cases involving Eric Brody, injured in a wreck with a speeding deputy; Rachel Hoffman, a young woman slain while performing as a confidential informant in a drug case; and Aaron Edwards, born with severe brain injuries as the result of malpractice in a public hospital.

Lobbyists and lawyers are essential to the success of claims bills, such as the current high-profile cases of Eric Brody and William Dillon, according to a Bloomberg News story. That involvement has drawn the concern of some lawmakers, while advocates contend such high-paid help is necessary.

A House floor vote is expected Friday on a bill to compensate William Dillon for 27 years of wrongful incarceration. The House Judiciary Committee is slated to take up a bill on behalf of Eric Brody, severely injured in a wreck with a Broward County deputy.

HB 141 awards $1.35 million to William Dillon, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and incarcerated for 27 years. HB 445 awards $10.75 million to Eric Brody, who was severely injured when his vehicle was struck by a Broward County Sheriff's deputy in 1998.

The Brody family has traveled to Tallahassee in recent years to push for the bill's passage. They were in attendance at the Capitol last year on the final day of session when the House failed to take up the bill as the chamber warred with the Senate over budget conforming bills.

The bills would award $1.3 million to a man wrongfully imprisoned 28 years for murder and $10.75 million to a man who suffered brain injuries when a Broward County Sheriff's deputy vehicle crashed into his car in 1998.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos already has said that he wants to pass two claims bills, including one that would compensate the family of Eric Brody.

Eric Brody and his parents spent more than 12 hours on the final day of the session waiting in vain for the Florida House to take up a claims bill. This year Senate President Mike Haridopolos says it is time to act.