Relief of the Estate of Danielle Maudsley by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Summary
This bill is a claims bill that provides a one-time appropriation of $1.75 million from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for the relief of the Estate of Danielle Maudsley. The bill is based on the circumstances surrounding Ms. Maudsley’s 2011 arrest, her attempted flight from a Florida Highway Patrol substation while handcuffed, and the use of an electronic control device by Trooper Daniel Cole, which allegedly caused catastrophic injuries and ultimately her death in 2013.
The bill directs the Chief Financial Officer to issue payment to the estate, less any amounts needed to satisfy outstanding Medicaid liens related to Ms. Maudsley’s medical care. It also states that the prior statutory payment under section 768.28, Florida Statutes, together with the amount awarded by this act, is intended to be the sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the incident. Attorney fees are capped at 25 percent of the amount awarded under the bill.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would appropriate state funds to satisfy the remaining balance of a settlement arising from alleged negligence by a state trooper and the Florida Highway Patrol, beyond the amount already paid under Florida’s sovereign immunity limits in section 768.28, Florida Statutes. It would not broadly change substantive law, but it would create a specific statutory remedy for this individual claim and authorize payment from state treasury funds to the estate, while also limiting attorney fees and extinguishing further related claims.
Sentiment
The bill appears sympathetic in tone toward the estate and the circumstances of Danielle Maudsley’s death, as reflected by the detailed findings in the preamble and the request to fully satisfy the settlement amount. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no additional evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. Based on the text alone, the measure is framed as a remedial compensation bill rather than a policy dispute.
Contention
The main point of contention inherent in the bill is the size and source of the payment: it seeks an additional $1.75 million in public funds after the statutory liability payment has already been made, which may raise concerns about taxpayer exposure and the use of claims bills to supplement sovereign-immunity caps. Another potential issue is the underlying conduct of Trooper Daniel Cole and whether the settlement amount fairly reflects the facts, but the bill itself does not present competing arguments. The attorney-fee cap and Medicaid lien offset are also notable provisions that may affect how much of the award reaches the estate and its counsel.