Bill Text: FL S0050 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relief of Javier Soria by Palm Beach County

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2014-05-02 - Died in Judiciary [S0050 Detail]

Download: Florida-2014-S0050-Introduced.html
       Florida Senate - 2014                              (NP)    SB 50
       
       
        
       By Senator Braynon
       
       
       
       
       
       36-00120-14                                             201450__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act for the relief of Javier Soria by Palm Beach
    3         County; providing for an appropriation to compensate
    4         Javier Soria for injuries sustained as a result of
    5         negligence by an employee of Palm Beach County;
    6         providing a limitation on the payment of fees and
    7         costs; providing an effective date.
    8  
    9         WHEREAS, on April 17, 2007, 36-year-old Javier Soria was
   10  lawfully traveling on his motorcycle northbound in the center
   11  lane on SR 807 in West Palm Beach in the 220 block of South
   12  Congress Avenue, and
   13         WHEREAS, at the same time, an employee of Palm Beach
   14  County, Juan Sepeda Casas, was driving a Palm Beach County dump
   15  truck with a utility trailer in tow, and
   16         WHEREAS, as Mr. Casas exited the Palm Beach County
   17  maintenance complex, he failed to stop at a stop sign, pulling
   18  out into the path of Javier Soria and causing a violent
   19  collision between the two vehicles, and
   20         WHEREAS, the Palm Beach County truck continued forward,
   21  dragging Javier Soria and the motorcycle under the dump truck
   22  for approximately 12 feet, and
   23         WHEREAS, Mr. Casas was charged in the accident by the
   24  investigating law enforcement agency, the Delray Beach Police
   25  Department, and
   26         WHEREAS, as a result of the collision, Javier Soria
   27  sustained severe head trauma, including a subarachnoid
   28  hemorrhage, a right-elbow fracture, deep lacerations requiring
   29  wound debridement, multiple abrasions to his face, hands, legs,
   30  and arms, upper-back pain, low-back disc herniation, left-hip
   31  pain, right-wrist pain, right-shoulder pain, and a right-knee
   32  linear tear that required bracing, physical therapy, and
   33  surgery, and
   34         WHEREAS, Javier Soria has undergone numerous surgical
   35  procedures, including irrigation debridement with placement of a
   36  temporary external fixator across the elbow joint, subsequent
   37  removal of the external fixator, and open reduction internal
   38  fixation on ulnar fractures, and
   39         WHEREAS, Javier Soria needs additional surgery to his right
   40  elbow, including elbow fusion or total elbow replacement;
   41  surgeries to his right wrist and shoulder; and arthroscopic
   42  surgery to his right knee; and is a candidate for total knee
   43  replacement in the future, and
   44         WHEREAS, Javier Soria suffers from multiple neurological
   45  injuries that cause chronic headaches, low-back pain, vision
   46  problems, sleep disturbance, depression, memory loss, anxiety,
   47  dizziness, tiredness, buzzing in the ears, numbness, tingling,
   48  and knee pain, which limit his routine daily activities, and
   49         WHEREAS, according to American Medical Association
   50  guidelines, Javier Soria’s treating neurologist, Dr. Waden
   51  Emery, has assigned him a 34 percent impairment rating with 5
   52  percent for headaches, 14 percent for lumbar radiculopathy, 5
   53  percent for insomnia, and 10 percent for anxiety, and
   54         WHEREAS, Javier Soria’s treating orthopedist, Dr. Fernando
   55  Moya, has assigned him a 53 percent orthopedic disability
   56  impairment rating, which includes 36 percent for injuries to the
   57  right elbow, 6 percent for injuries to the right knee, 6 percent
   58  for injuries to the lumbar spine, and 5 percent for injuries to
   59  the right wrist, and
   60         WHEREAS, Javier Soria’s medical expenses have totaled
   61  approximately $200,254, and experts in life care planning and
   62  economics have determined that his future medical expenses are
   63  approximately $640,000, and past and future lost earnings total
   64  approximately $478,000, with total economic damages exceeding
   65  $1.3 million, and
   66         WHEREAS, Javier Soria’s injuries resulted in permanent
   67  cognitive impairment, with the neuropsychological assessment of
   68  Dr. Robert Brick concluding that Mr. Soria suffers from post
   69  traumatic stress disorder, memory loss, poor management and
   70  organizational skills, mood swings, daily headaches, constant
   71  ringing in his ears, insomnia, panic attacks, and amnesia that
   72  require cognitive therapy, and
   73         WHEREAS, Javier Soria continues to suffer from pain and
   74  instability in his head, neck, back, body, and limbs and, in
   75  addition, continues to suffer from severe depression brought
   76  about by his pain, suffering, disability, and limitations, all
   77  of which are a direct result of the accident, and
   78         WHEREAS, before the accident, Javier Soria was in excellent
   79  physical condition and had dreams of one day opening his own
   80  martial arts studio and becoming a certified martial arts
   81  instructor, and
   82         WHEREAS, Javier Soria’s three children have a corresponding
   83  right of action and claim given that Mr. Soria is now
   84  permanently disabled with physical limitations and injuries and
   85  cognitive restrictions and depression that limit his ability to
   86  provide the companionship and support that he was once capable
   87  of providing his family, and
   88         WHEREAS, a settlement was reached between Javier Soria and
   89  Palm Beach County in the amount of $300,000, and
   90         WHEREAS, Palm Beach County has agreed to and pledged its
   91  support for a claim bill in the amount of $100,000, NOW,
   92  THEREFORE,
   93  
   94  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   95  
   96         Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act are
   97  found and declared to be true.
   98         Section 2. Palm Beach County is authorized and directed to
   99  appropriate from funds of the county not otherwise appropriated
  100  and to draw a warrant in the sum of $100,000, payable to Javier
  101  Soria as compensation for injuries and damages sustained.
  102         Section 3. The amount paid by Palm Beach County pursuant to
  103  s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, and the amount awarded under this
  104  act are intended to provide the sole compensation for all
  105  present and future claims against Palm Beach County arising out
  106  of the factual situation described in this act which resulted in
  107  the injuries to Javier Soria. The total amount paid for attorney
  108  fees, lobbying fees, costs, and other similar expenses relating
  109  to this claim may not exceed 25 percent of the total amount
  110  awarded under this act.
  111         Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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