Florida Senate - 2013                                      SB 44
       
       
       
       By Senator Sobel
       
       
       
       
       33-00014-13                                             201344__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act for the relief of Ronald Miller by the City of
    3         Hollywood; providing for an appropriation to
    4         compensate him for injuries sustained as a result of
    5         the negligence of the City of Hollywood; providing a
    6         limitation on the payment of fees and costs; providing
    7         an effective date.
    8  
    9         WHEREAS, on July 30, 2002, Ronald Miller was driving his
   10  pickup truck home from work, northbound on Federal Highway in
   11  the left-turn lane, and
   12         WHEREAS, at that time a City of Hollywood employee, Robert
   13  Mettler, who was driving a city utilities truck, cut across the
   14  lanes of northbound traffic and crashed into Mr. Miller’s
   15  vehicle head-on, and
   16         WHEREAS, the impact of the crash caused Mr. Miller to have
   17  corrective surgeries for damage to both knees, and
   18         WHEREAS, the jury found in favor of Mr. Miller, and a final
   19  judgment was entered in the amount of $1,130,731.89, and a cost
   20  judgment was entered in the amount of $17,257.82, and
   21         WHEREAS, the City of Hollywood has paid $100,000 to Mr.
   22  Miller under the statutory limits of liability set forth in s.
   23  768.28, Florida Statutes, and
   24         WHEREAS, the parties have negotiated in good faith and have
   25  arrived at a stipulated resolution of this matter for the
   26  payment by the City of Hollywood of an additional $100,000 to
   27  Mr. Miller, NOW, THEREFORE,
   28  
   29  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   30  
   31         Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act are
   32  found and declared to be true.
   33         Section 2. The City of Hollywood is authorized and directed
   34  to appropriate from funds of the city not otherwise appropriated
   35  and to draw a warrant, payable to Ronald Miller, for the total
   36  amount of $100,000 as compensation for injuries and damages
   37  sustained as a result of the negligence of an employee of the
   38  City of Hollywood.
   39         Section 3. The amount paid by the City of Hollywood
   40  pursuant to s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, and the amount awarded
   41  under this act are intended to provide the sole compensation for
   42  all present and future claims arising out of the factual
   43  situation described in this act which resulted in injuries to
   44  Ronald Miller. All expenses that constitute a part of Ronald
   45  Miller’s judgments described in this claim shall be paid from
   46  the amount awarded under this act on a pro rata basis. The total
   47  amount paid for attorney fees, lobbying fees, costs, and other
   48  similar expenses relating to this claim may not exceed 25
   49  percent of the amount awarded under this act.
   50         Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.