An effort to fully compensate a local man for severe injuries he suffered in a bicycle accident years ago is now before Governor Rick Scott.
Rep. Halsey Beshears (R-Monticello) is one of the authors of the bipartisan claims bill meant to compensate Mark Sawicki, who's currently an engineer at Florida State University.
“In October 2009, Mark Sawicki was commuting to work on his bicycle,” said Beshears, during an earlier committee hearing. “He was at a stop light, and there was a city of Tallahassee trash truck that did not see him, ran over him, he suffered multiple injuries, multiple fractures, and as a result he had multiple surgeries.”
The city of Tallahassee already paid 200,000 to help the Sawicki family with medical bills and attorney fees. If approved, they would get 700,000 dollars more for his long term care.
And, Sen. Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee) says he believes the Governor will likely sign it.
“And, so the city of Tallahassee agrees fully with this that he needs to be compensated,” said Montford. “And, so, it’s the right thing to do. We’re righting a wrong, and we’re making this person as whole as we can considering the circumstances.”
13 other claims bills were also presented to the Governor for approval Monday.
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