Florida Senate - 2027 (NP) SB 36
By Senator Martin
33-00015-27 202736__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act for the relief of Krystle Mace and Leonard Mace
3 by Charlotte County; providing for an appropriation to
4 compensate Mrs. and Mr. Mace for injuries sustained as
5 a result of the negligence of Charlotte County;
6 providing a limitation on compensation and the payment
7 of attorney fees; providing an effective date.
8
9 WHEREAS, on March 6, 2021, Krystle Mace and Leonard Mace
10 were lawfully driving motorcycles during light rain on westbound
11 Edgewater Drive in Charlotte County, and
12 WHEREAS, upon approaching a roundabout at Edgewater Drive
13 and West Tarpon Boulevard, both Mrs. and Mr. Mace’s motorcycles
14 began to slide over a large, lane-wide area of black paint on
15 the roadway, which was applied underneath white directional
16 arrows, and
17 WHEREAS, as a result of her motorcycle slipping on the
18 painted area, Mrs. Mace fell from the motorcycle and sustained
19 extensive and severe injuries, and
20 WHEREAS, the lane-wide application of black paint to the
21 roadway created dangerous, slippery conditions for motorcycles,
22 especially in wet conditions, and
23 WHEREAS, the black paint was applied to the roadway by
24 Charlotte County in violation of the Manual of Uniform Traffic
25 Control Devices for Streets and Highways and Florida Department
26 of Transportation standards, and
27 WHEREAS, Mrs. and Mr. Mace alleged, through a lawsuit filed
28 on November 22, 2021, in the Circuit Court of the Twentieth
29 Judicial Circuit, that Mrs. Mace’s injuries were caused by the
30 negligence of Charlotte County in painting the lane-wide section
31 of roadway, and
32 WHEREAS, the lawsuit proceeded to trial, and, on December
33 11, 2025, a jury returned a verdict in favor of Mrs. and Mr.
34 Mace, finding Charlotte County 100 percent liable for the
35 incident, and
36 WHEREAS, since the incident, Mrs. Mace has received
37 considerable medical care and incurred substantial treatment
38 costs, and she will require such care for the remainder of her
39 life, and
40 WHEREAS, Mrs. Mace has endured significant pain and
41 suffering, disability, physical impairment, disfigurement,
42 mental anguish, inconvenience, and loss of capacity for the
43 enjoyment of life, and
44 WHEREAS, Mrs. Mace has suffered the loss of earnings and of
45 future earning potential, and
46 WHEREAS, Mr. Mace has suffered the loss of his wife’s
47 comfort, society, and attention, and
48 WHEREAS, a final judgment was entered on March 30, 2026, in
49 the amount of $6,380,263.15, awarding $5,380,263.15 to Mrs. Mace
50 and $1 million to Mr. Mace, and
51 WHEREAS, Charlotte County has paid $300,000 pursuant to the
52 limits of liability set forth in s. 768.28, Florida Statutes,
53 partially satisfying the judgment, and
54 WHEREAS, the balance of $6,080,263.15 remains unpaid and
55 requires legislative approval through passage of a claim bill to
56 satisfy the remainder of the judgment, NOW, THEREFORE,
57
58 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
59
60 Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act are
61 found and declared to be true.
62 Section 2. The Charlotte County Board of County
63 Commissioners is authorized and directed to appropriate from
64 funds not otherwise encumbered and to draw a warrant in the sum
65 of $6,080,263.15 payable to Krystle Mace and Leonard Mace as
66 compensation for injuries and damages sustained.
67 Section 3. The amount paid by the Charlotte County Board of
68 County Commissioners pursuant to s. 768.28, Florida Statutes,
69 and the amount awarded under this act are intended to provide
70 the sole compensation for all present and future claims arising
71 out of the factual situation described in this act which
72 resulted in injuries and damages to Krystle Mace and Leonard
73 Mace. The total amount paid for attorney fees relating to this
74 claim may not exceed 25 percent of the total amount awarded
75 under this act.
76 Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.