Florida Senate Vote Ends Eric Brody's Search For Justice
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4/NSF) – After a decade of legal and political fights, Florida senators gave final approval Thursday to a $10.75 million claims bill that would compensate Eric Brody, at least to the extent money can, for brain injuries he suffered in a 1998 car crash with a Broward County sheriff's deputy.
The House and Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill (SB 4), after Brody's attorney and lobbyists agreed to waive their fees, removing the last potential obstacle in the Legislature.
The votes were a victory for Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, who made compensating Brody a priority and was angered when the issue died in the House at the end of the 2011 session.
"Congratulations to the Brody family,'' Haridopolos said after the 36-3 vote in the Senate, which sent the bill to Gov. Rick Scott. "We're glad this sad chapter is finally behind us."
Brody, 32, sat in a wheelchair as he and his parents watched the House and Senate votes. The $10.75 million total was a compromise worked out by attorneys for Brody, the Broward County Sheriff's Office and an insurer.
A jury in 2005 found that a Broward deputy was negligent in the crash and awarded nearly $30.9 million in damages and costs. The state's sovereign-immunity laws, however, required Brody's family to get a claims bill passed before they could collect more than $200,000, which touched off a lengthy lobbying battle.
Passage of the bill remained in question until Thursday afternoon, as the House and Senate traded proposals about limiting legal and lobbying fees in claims bills. But Brody attorney Lance Block and lobbyists Brian Ballard and Mike Corcoran agreed to give up their fees, leading to quick approval of the bill.
"I'm able to walk and talk and get up and go to work every day,'' Block said. "Eric can't. He deserves all the money. I'm proud to have represented him for a fee or no fee."
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report
