Ever heard of someone getting hurt by, or on, city, county, or government property in Florida? Suing the State of Florida is not the same as suing a private person or a private corporation and there is a lot of “red tape” you have to deal with.
These procedures need to be strictly followed. For example, you have to first provide notice of your intent to file a lawsuit to the Florida Department of Financial Services; you cannot just sue right away, as is the case in most civil actions against a private person or corporation. Once the notice is filed, the government then has the opportunity to conduct its own investigation of the incident and injury prior to you being able to file a lawsuit.
Another difference is how much you can sue for. The government does not have to pay a claim that exceeds $200,000.00 for one person, or more than a total of $300,000.00 for all claims that arise out of one incident. Anything over this amount, needs to be addressed through a claims bill, where the state legislature has to authorize a payment that exceeds the cap amounts. Different state agencies can be sued if they are negligent and cause injury. They include: executive departments; the legislature; state university trustee boards; counties; municipalities and corporations that act primarily for the state or their agents.
Should you find yourself in a situation where you need to file suit against a government entity, do not hesitate to contact Mackey Law Group to speak with one of our experienced attorneys.
By: Jose Estigarribia, Esq.
