Representative Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton, filed HB 1113 (the “Bill”) in the Florida House of Representatives at the end of December 2011 that would place new restrictions on claims bills and which lawmakers can file such bills.  Claims bills, which are based on the state’s sovereign immunity laws, generally limit the liability of government agencies to $200,000.  Lawmakers must approve bills for any amount exceeding that threshold.  The Bill also proposes to bar lobbyists from collecting contingency fees when such measures are passed.

According to press reports, Florida lawmakers are currently considering several highly contentious claims bills this year.  One involves the compensation of Eric Brody for the injuries he sustained in a car crash with a Broward County sheriff’s officer.  Brody is seeking more than $15 million dollars in damages.  Another claims bill concerns William Dillion, who served 27 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murder.  The Bill, if passed, would not take effect until July 1, 2012 and would not affect the Brody, Dillion, and other claims bills in the 2012 session.

Click here to view the entire Bill.  We will monitor the movement of HB 1113 and provide updates here on InsureReinsure.com.