THE BILL ITSELF
HB 6521
Relief/Jose Correa/Miami-Dade County
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A bill to be entitled
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An act for the relief of Jose Correa by Miami-Dade
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County; providing an appropriation to compensate Mr.
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Correa for injuries sustained as a result of the
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negligence of an employee of Miami-Dade County;
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providing a limitation on the payment of compensation
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and certain fees; providing an effective date.
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WHEREAS, on December 16, 2021, Jose Correa was lawfully
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walking across Bird Road, SW 40th Street, within the marked
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crosswalk at the intersection of Bird Road and Le Jeune Road, SW
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42nd Avenue, in Miami-Dade County, and
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WHEREAS, a Miami-Dade County bus driver failed to observe
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Mr. Correa and made a left-hand turn at the intersection,
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causing a collision between the bus and Mr. Correa, and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Correa has alleged, through a lawsuit filed on
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July 21, 2022, in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial
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Circuit, that the negligence of Miami-Dade County, through its
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bus driver, was the proximate cause of Mr. Correa's injuries,
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and
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WHEREAS, Mr. Correa suffered personal injuries resulting in
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significant pain and anguish, including a below-knee amputation,
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and will continue to suffer pain and anguish for the remainder
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of his life, and
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WHEREAS, since the incident, Mr. Correa has incurred
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considerable medical care and treatment costs related to his
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injuries, and he will require such care and treatment for the
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remainder of his life, and
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WHEREAS, following the filing of the lawsuit, Mr. Correa
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and Miami-Dade County reached a settlement agreement in the
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amount of $4.3 million, and
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WHEREAS, pursuant to that settlement agreement and the
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limits of liability set forth in s. 768.28, Florida Statutes,
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the settlement agreement has been partially satisfied by Miami-
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Dade County in the amount of $200,000, and the satisfaction of
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the remainder is contingent upon the passage of a claim bill in
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the amount of $4.1 million, 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
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are found and declared to be true.
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Section 2. Miami-Dade County is authorized and directed to
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appropriate from funds not otherwise encumbered and to draw a
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warrant in the sum of $4.1 million payable to Jose Correa as
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compensation for injuries and damages sustained.
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Section 3. The amount paid by Miami-Dade County pursuant
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to s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, and the amount awarded under
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this act are intended to provide the sole compensation for all
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present and future claims arising out of the factual situation
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described in this act which resulted in injuries and damages to
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Jose Correa. The total amount paid for attorney fees and
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lobbying 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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This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. Section 4.