Relief/Mande Penney-Lemmon/Sarasota County
This bill represents a financial relief mechanism that enables the recovery of excess judgment not covered under the statutory limit of $200,000, which Sarasota County has already paid as per Florida Statute s. 768.28. The compensation aims to address the lingering medical issues Penney-Lemmon faces, including chronic pain and disabilities resulting from the accident. By facilitating this appropriation, the bill underscores the state's commitment to addressing wrongs caused by local governmental entities and ensuring affected parties receive due compensation for their plight.
House Bill H6503 is legislation aimed at providing relief for Mande Penney-Lemmon due to injuries sustained from a negligent act by Sarasota County through its employee, Jill Parnell. The bill proposes an appropriation of $2,291,364.63 to compensate Penney-Lemmon for the damages she incurred as a result of the incident that occurred on October 1, 2018. During the incident, Parnell's vehicle struck the rear of Penney-Lemmon's vehicle, which was halted due to traffic, leading to significant physical and neurological injuries for Penney-Lemmon.
Notably, the bill emphasizes a controlled limitation on attorney fees, allowing charges to reach a maximum of 25 percent of the total amount awarded. This provision is designed to protect a significant portion of the awarded sums for the beneficiary. Discussions surrounding the bill may reflect broader concerns related to government liability, the management of public funds for compensations, and potential implications for similar claims against the county or other governmental bodies in Florida.