By Sascha Cordner
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-980287.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – The deadline for Florida lawmakers to file claims bills is Monday. Sascha Cordner reports on two re-filed bills that would allow the family of a dead informant and several male abuse victims of a detention center to be compensated with more than what is normally allowed under Florida law.
Republican Senator Mike Fasano of New Port Richey says he hopes to provide financial relief to the abused victims at the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna if they win their suit against Florida. The other bill would compensate the parents of Rachel Hoffman, a 23-year-old informant for the Tallahassee Police Department, if they win a wrongful death lawsuit against the city.
"Regardless of what agreement is made between the Hoffman family and the city of Tallahassee or the Dozier Boys and the state of Florida, the claims bill would be there to allow the city and the state to compensate the victims and the victims' family beyond the 200-thousand dollars that prohibits them from compensating anyone in statute."
Fasano says he filed the bills just in case an agreement could be reached. But, if there is no dollar amount set at this time for either suit, then he will continue re-filing the bills during other sessions.