TALLAHASSEE, FL. (WTXL) - Florida Governor Rick Scott signs 48 new bills into law Thursday one which could affect the city of Tallahassee's budget.
Governor Scott signed House Bill 3523, which will direct the capital city to pay a settlement amount of close to 1 million dollars to a man severely injured by a public works truck.
Florida State University Engineer Mark Sawicki, was hit and run over by a Tallahassee garbage truck on Call Street more than five years ago. Since then he has been petitioning for compensation for damages, saying he still experiences aches and pains.
The 57 year old was stopped at a red light beside a sanitation truck, when the truck attempted to make a right turn, the truck's hydraulic arm then hit Sawicki in the head and drug him under the rear wheels of the truck. He suffered a crushed pelvis, broken right leg, and internal injuries.
The city admitted responsibility for the accident and agreed to pay $900,000 to the engineer and his wife, Sharon Sawicki, for medical and legal costs. It paid the $200,000 allowed by law, but the rest of the settlement required legislative action. The house Bill will limit attorney and lobbying fees to 25% of the claim being paid.
