Title: Relief/Estate of Cesar Solomon/JTA

Summary: Compensates the Estate of Cesar Solomon for Mr. Solomon's death, which was the result of negligence by a bus driver of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. Provides a limitation on the payment of fees and costs, etc. CLAIM:

Full Text:
WHEREAS, at the same time Gwendolyn Wells Mordecai, while in the course and scope of her employment, was driving a bus owned and operated by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and crashed the bus into the aerial lift truck, knocking Cesar Solomon out of the bucket to his death, and WHEREAS, the Estate of Cesar Solomon filed a lawsuit against the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Gwendolyn Wells Mordecai, and Jax Transit Manage ment for negligence,and WHEREAS, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and Jax Transit Management acknowledged that Gwendolyn Wells Mordecai was responsible for the accident and that Cesar Solomon was not comparatively negligent,and WHEREAS, the Jack sonville Transportation Authority entered into a stipulated judgment in favor of the Estate of Cesar Solomon for $1.25 million and acknowledged that a jury likely WHEREAS, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority has paid $200,000 to the Estate of Cesar Solomon, the maximum amount authorized under s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, and WHEREAS, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority has agreed to remain neutral and no ttake any action adverse to the pursuit of a claim bill by the Estate of Cesar Solomon to authorize and direct the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to pay the remaining $1.05 million pursuant to the stipulated judgment,NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Enact ed by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act are found and declared to be true. Section 2. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is authorized and directed to appropriate from funds of the authority not otherwise appropriated and to draw warrants to pay $1.05 million to the Estate of Cesar Solomon as compensation for the death of Cesar Solomon. Each warrant shall be in the amount of $350,000 and shall be paid annually for years. Section 3. The amount paid by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority pursuant to s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, and this award are intended to provide compensation for all present and future claims arising out of the factual situation that resulted in the death of Cesar Solomon as described in this act. The total amount paid for attorney s fees, lobbying fees, costs, and other similar expenses relating Florida Senate-2011 (NP) SB 1-00015A-11 201122__ under this act. Section 4. This act shall take ef fect upon becoming a law.