10-009602CB
In Re: Senate Bill 70 (Carl Abbott) vs.
*
Status: Closed
DOAH Final Order on Tuesday, February 1, 2011.
DOAH Final Order on Tuesday, February 1, 2011.
1THE FLORIDA SENATE
4SPECIAL MASTER ON CLAIM BILLS
9Location
1040 2 Senate Office Building
15Mailing Address
17404 South Monroe Street
21Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 1100
26(850) 487 - 5237
30DATE COMM ACTION
332/1/11 SM Fav/ 1 amendment
38February 1, 2011
41The Honorable Mike Haridopolos
45President, The Florida Senate
49Suite 409, The Capitol
53Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 1100
58Re : SB 70 (2011) Î Senator Joe Negron
67Relief of Carl Abbott
71SPECIAL MASTERÓS FINAL REPORT
75THIS IS AN UNOPPOSED EQUITABLE CLAIM FOR $1.9
83MILLION, IN LOCAL FU NDS, AGAINST THE PAL M BEACH
93COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD FOR THE NEGLIGENCE O F A
102BUS DRIVER WHO STRUC K AND SERIOUSLY INJU RED
111CARL ABBOTT AS HE WA S ATTEMPTING TO WALK
120ACROSS A ROADWAY WIT HIN A MARKED PEDESTRIAN
128CROSSWALK.
129FINDINGS OF FACT: On June 30, 2008, at about 2:00 p.m., Carl Abbott, then 68
144years old, started to walk across U.S. Highway 1 at the
155intersection with South Anchorage Drive in North Palm
163Beach, Florida. Mr. Abbott was he ading west from the
173northeast quadrant of the intersection, toward the
180intersection's northwest quadrant. To get to the other side of
190U. S. Highway 1, which runs north and south, Mr. Abbott
201needed to cross the highway's three northbound lanes, a
210median, t he southbound left turn lane, and the three
220southbound travel lanes. Mr. Abbott remained within the
228marked pedestrian crosswalk. (See Diagram below.)
234At the time Mr. Abbott began to cross U. S. Highway 1, a
247school bus was idling in the eastbound left - tu rn lane on
260South Anchorage Drive, waiting for the green light. The bus
270driver, Generia Bedford, intended to turn left and proceed
279SPECIAL MASTERÓS FINAL REPORT Î SB 70 (2011)
287February 1, 2011
290Page 2
292north on U. S. Highway 1. When the light changed, Ms.
303Bedford drove the bus eastward through the intersection and
312turned lef t, as planned, heading northward. She did not see
323Mr. Abbott, who was in the center northbound lane of U. S.
335Highway 1, until it was too late. The school bus struck Mr.
347Abbott and knocked him to the ground. He sustained a
357serious, traumatic brain injury in the accident.
364Mr. Abbott received c ardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR ) at
374the scene and was rushed to St. Mary's Medical Center,
384where he was placed on a ventilator. A cerebral shunt was
395placed to decrease intracranial pressure. After two months,
403Mr. Abbott was discharged with the following diagnoses:
411traumatic brain injury, pulmonary contusions, intracranial
417hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, and paralysis.
422Mr. Abbot presently resides in a nursing home. As a result
433of the brain injury, he is unable to talk, walk, or take care of
447himself. He is alert but has significant cognitive
455impairments. Mr. Abbot has neurogenic bladder and bowel
463and hence is incontinent. He cannot perform any activities
472of daily living and needs constant, total care. His condi tion is
484not expected to improve.
488Based on the Life Care Plan prepared by Stuart B. Krost ,
499M.D., Mr. Abbott's future medical needs, assuming a life
508expectancy of 78 years, are projected to cost about $4
518million, before a reduction to present value. Based on the
528evidence presented, the undersigned is unable to determine
536the approximate amount of Mr. Abbott's past medical
544expenses, but it appears to be a sum between, very roughly,
555$200,000 and $ 775,000.
561SPECIAL MASTERÓS FINAL REPORT Î SB 70 (2011)
569F ebruary 1, 2011
573Page 3
575DIAGRAM:
576LEGAL PROCEEDINGS: In 2008, Mr. Abbott's son David, as guardian, brought suit on
589Mr. Abbott's behalf against the School Board of Palm Beach
599County. The action was filed in the Circuit Court in and for
611Palm Beach County, Florida.
615Before trial the parties attended a mediation conference and
624agreed to settle the case for $2 million, $100,000 of which
636the School Board paid immediately. Pursuant to the
644settlement agreement, the $1.9 million balance will be paid,
653if this claim bill is enacted, in eight yearly installment s of
665$211,111.11, plus a ninth and final annual payment of
675$211,111.12. These yearly payments will commence, if at
684all, on the effective date of the claim bill, should it become
696law, and continue for nine years, or until Mr. Abbott's death,
707whichever firs t occurs. The School Board has agreed,
716however, to make at least three years' worth of payments,
726SPECIAL MASTERÓS FINAL REPORT Î SB 70 (2011)
734February 1, 2011
737Page 4
739guaranteeing a minimum payout of $633.333.33 (if this claim
748bill passes).
750Out of the $100,000 settlement proceeds he has already
760received, Mr. Abbot paid $25 ,000 in attorney's fees and,
770after paying some expenses, netted $51,905.65. This
778amount was paid to Mr. Abbott's guardian, David Abbott.
787CLAIMANT'S ARGUMENTS: The Palm Beach County School Board is vicariously liable
798for the negligence of its employee, w ho breached the duty of
810a motorist to use reasonable care toward a pedestrian by
820failing to yield the right - of - way to Mr. Abbott as he crossed
835U. S. Highway #1 on foot within a marked crosswalk.
845RESPONDENT'S POSITION: The Palm Beach County School Board d oes not oppose the
858enactment of this claim bill. It is self - insured, however, and
870would pay the balance of the agreed sum out of its General
882Fund, which was the source of revenue used to satisfy the
893initial commitment of $100,000. The School Board notes
902that payment of the $1.9 million sought in this bill would be
914difficult, given budgetary constraints, but it stops short of
923urging that the bill be rejected on this basis.
932CONCLUSIONS OF LAW: As provided in s . 768.28, Florida Statutes (2010), sovereign
945i mmunity shields the School Board against tort liability in
955excess of $200,000 per occurrence.
961A school board is liable for any negligent act committed by a
973public school bus driver whom it employs, provided the act is
984with in the scope of the driver's em ployment. Hollis v. School
996Board of Leon Cnty. , 384 So. 2d 661, 665 (Fla. 1st DCA
10081980) . Ms. Bedford was the School Board's employee and
1018was clearly acting within the scope of her employment at the
1029time of the accident in question. Accordingly, the negl igence
1039of Ms. Bedford is attributable to the School Board.
1048Like any motorist, a school bus driver has a duty to look out
1061for pedestrians and to avoid creating hazardous situations.
1069See Resnick v. National Car Rental Systems, Inc. , 266 So.
10792d 74, 75 (Fla. 3d DCA 1972) . While "th e rights of motorists
1093and pedestrians on highways are reciprocal," the motorist
"1101must exercise ordinary reasonable and due care toward a
1110pedestrian." Edwards v. Donaldson , 103 So. 2d 256, 259
1119(Fla. 2d DCA 1958) .
1124SPECIAL MASTERÓS FINAL REPORT Î SB 70 (2011)
1132February 1, 2011
1135Page 5
1137Here, the applica ble traffic regulations required that Ms.
1146Bedford yield to Mr. Abbott because he was crossing the
1156road within a marked crosswalk. See § 316.130(7), Fla.
1165Stat.; see also , § 316.075(1)(a)1., Fla. Stat. ("[V] ehicular
1175traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the
1185right - of - way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully
1197within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time
1207such [green] signal is exhibited ." ) Ms. Bedford breached the
1218duty to use reasonable care for the safety of Mr. Abbott. Her
1230negligence was the direct and proximate cause of Mr.
1239Abbott's serious and irreversible brain injury.
1245The sum that the School District has agreed to pay Mr.
1256Abbott ($ 2 million) is both reasonable and responsible, given
1266the nature and permanence of the injury and the Mr. Abbott's
1277substantial and continuing medical needs.
1282ATTORNEYS FEES: Section 768.28(8), Florida Statutes, provides that "[n] o
1292attorney may charge, dema nd, receive, or collect, for
1301services rendered, fees in excess of 25 percent of any
1311judgment or settlement. " Mr. Abbott's attorney, Joseph R.
1319Johnson, Esquire, has submitted an affidavit attesting that
1327all attorney's fees, lobbying fees, and costs will be paid in
1338accordance with the limitations specified in the claim bill.
1347SPECIAL ISSUES: The claim bill requires some relatively technical amendments
1357to conform to the parties' settlement agreement. The
1365anticipated revisions, which the claimant's counsel is
1372expected to prepare, will not change the bill's substance in
1382any meaningful way.
1385RECOMMENDATIONS: For the reasons set forth above, I recommend that Senate
1396Bill 70 (2011) be reported FAVORABLY , as amended.
1404Respectfully submitted,
1406John G. Van Laningham
1410Senate Special Master
1413cc: Senator Joe Negron
1417R. Philip Twogood , Secretary of the Senate
1424Counsel of Record
1427Attachment
1428Florida Senate - 2011 SPECIAL MASTER AMENDMENT
1435Bill No. SB 70
1439Ì159200jÎ 159200
1441LEGISLATIVE ACTION
1443Senate . House
1446.
1447.
1448.
1449.
1450.
1451The Special Master on Claim Bills recommended the following:
14601 Senate Amendment
14632
14643 In title, delete lines 22 - 27
14724 and insert:
14755 WHEREAS, the Palm Beach County School Board unanimously
14846 passed a resolution in support of settling the lawsuit that was
14967 filed in this case, tendered payment of $100,000 to Carl Abbott,
15098 in accordance with the statutory limits of liability set forth
15209 in s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, and does not oppose the passage
153210 of this claim bill in favor of Carl Abbott in the amount of
154611 $1,900,000, as structured , NOW, THEREFORE,
155412
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15592/20/2011 3:02:27 PM 600 - 01776 - 11
- Date
- Proceedings
- PDF:
- Date: 05/24/2011
- Proceedings: Transmittal letter from Claudia Llado forwarding records to the agency.
- Date: 05/09/2011
- Proceedings: End of 2011 Regular Session. CASE CLOSED.
- PDF:
- Date: 02/01/2011
- Proceedings: Special Master's Final Report released (transmitted to Senate President [February 1, 2011]).
- PDF:
- Date: 12/20/2010
- Proceedings: Letter to Special Master from R. Glassman regarding proposed findings of facts or conclusions of law filed.
- Date: 12/15/2010
- Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
- PDF:
- Date: 11/15/2010
- Proceedings: Letter to Special Master from R. Glassman material for inclusion in the document book filed.
- PDF:
- Date: 11/10/2010
- Proceedings: Letter to Special Masters from R. Glassman enclosing material for to be included in the Document Book to be used during final hearing filed.
- PDF:
- Date: 11/01/2010
- Proceedings: Notice of Hearing (hearing set for December 15, 2010; 9:00 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL).
- PDF:
- Date: 10/27/2010
- Proceedings: Letter to Special Master Van Laningham from Lance Block regarding scheduling filed.
Case Information
- Judge:
- JOHN G. VAN LANINGHAM
- Date Filed:
- 10/05/2010
- Date Assignment:
- 10/12/2010
- Last Docket Entry:
- 05/24/2011
- Location:
- Tallahassee, Florida
- District:
- Northern
- Agency:
- Contract Hearings
- Suffix:
- CB
Counsels
-
Lance J. Block, Jr., Esquire
Address of Record -
Robert Glassman, Esquire
Address of Record -
Leah Marino, Deputy General Counsel
Address of Record -
Tom Thomas, Esquire
Address of Record