THE BILL ITSELF
SB 16
Relief of Heriberto A. Sanchez-Mayen by the City of St. Petersburg
Florida Senate - 2026 (NP) SB 16 By Senator Rouson 16-00065A-26 202616__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act for the relief of Heriberto A. Sanchez-Mayen by
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the City of St. Petersburg; providing for an
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appropriation to compensate Mr. Sanchez-Mayen for
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injuries sustained as a result of the negligence of
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the City of St. Petersburg; providing a limitation on
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compensation and the payment of attorney fees;
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providing an effective date.
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WHEREAS, on June 8, 2023, Heriberto A. Sanchez-Mayen, a
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resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, was found asleep on a piece
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of cardboard just after 10 a.m. in a daytime-only designated
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park by a St. Petersburg police officer, and
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WHEREAS, although Mr. Sanchez-Mayen was lawfully present on
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the property at this time of day, a St. Petersburg police
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officer arrested him for trespassing and called the prisoner
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transport van, and
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WHEREAS, the transport officer handcuffed Mr. Sanchez-Mayen
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and attached a metal belly chain, which restricted the use of
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his arms, and placed him unsecured, without a seatbelt or other
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stationary tethering, on a metal bench in the back of a metal
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transport van, and
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WHEREAS, while en route to the Pinellas County Jail, the
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transport officer, who had not engaged the van’s interior video
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camera showing Mr. Sanchez-Mayen, stopped short for a red light,
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causing Mr. Sanchez-Mayen, who had no ability to brace or
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protect himself because he was restrained, to be thrown head
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first from the back of the van into the bulkhead, where he laid
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motionless. This was ultimately captured on the van’s interior
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video camera, and
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WHEREAS, instead of immediately seeking medical treatment
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for Mr. Sanchez-Mayen, the transport officer continued to drive
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to the jail where, upon arrival, Mr. Sanchez-Mayen was still
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motionless and unresponsive on the metal floor of the van, and
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WHEREAS, the transport officer proceeded to remove Mr.
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Sanchez-Mayen’s body from the van by dragging him by his feet,
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causing his head to strike the rear bumper, the rear door, and
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the cement floor, and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Sanchez-Mayen was taken to a local hospital
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for approximately 12 hours before being transported to Tampa
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General Hospital, where doctors determined that Mr. Sanchez
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Mayen had sustained catastrophic injuries, including a closed
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displaced fracture of the third cervical vertebra, a closed
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odontoid fracture, dissection of the descending thoracic aorta,
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and spinal cord compression, which ultimately led to amputation
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of both of his legs above the knees, rendering him an incomplete
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quadriplegic, and
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WHEREAS, as a result of the injuries sustained during
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transport, Mr. Sanchez-Mayen requires supervised medical care,
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home health care, and other services and support for the rest of
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his life, and
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WHEREAS, on March 18, 2024, Mr. Sanchez-Mayen brought suit
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against the City of St. Petersburg and two individual St.
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Petersburg police officers in the United States District Court
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for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, under case
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number 8:24-CV—00690-WFJ-TGW, and
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WHEREAS, on March 12, 2025, Mr. Sanchez-Mayen and the City
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of St. Petersburg entered into a settlement agreement for $2.5
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million, and
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WHEREAS, in accordance with s. 768.28, Florida Statutes,
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the City of St. Petersburg paid $200,000 to the trust account of
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Mr. Sanchez-Mayen’s lawyer, and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Sanchez-Mayen remains liable for both Florida
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and Pennsylvania Medicaid liens, and
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WHEREAS, the settlement agreement provides for the entry of
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a consent judgment for the remaining amount of $2.3 million and
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cooperation by the City of St. Petersburg in not opposing this
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claim bill, NOW, THEREFORE,
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act are
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found and declared to be true.
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Section 2. The City of St. Petersburg is directed to draw a
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warrant in the sum of $2.3 million payable to Heriberto A.
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Sanchez-Mayen as compensation for injuries and damages
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sustained.
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Section 3. The amount paid by the City of St. Petersburg
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pursuant to s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, and the amount awarded
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under this act are intended to provide the sole compensation for
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all present and future claims arising out of the factual
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situation described in this act which resulted in injuries and
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damages to Heriberto A. Sanchez-Mayen. The total amount paid for
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attorney fees relating to this claim may not exceed 25 percent
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of the total amount awarded under this act.
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Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.