Florida HB 6531: Relief/Estate of M.N./Broward County Sheriff's Office

Bill Text

CS/HB 6531, Engrossed 1 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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A bill to be entitled 1
An act for the relief of the Estate of M.N. by the 2
Broward County Sheriff's Office; providing an 3
appropriation to compensate the estate for injuries 4
sustained by M.N. and her subsequent death as a result 5
of the negligence of the Broward County Sheriff's 6
Office; providing a limitation on compensation and the 7
payment of attorney fees; providing an effective date. 8
9
WHEREAS, Keshia Walsh and Christopher Nevarez were parents 10
to M.N., born on April 20, 2016, and to D.N., born on February 11
2, 2012, and 12
WHEREAS, on August 19, 2016, Ms. Walsh brought M.N., then 3 13
months old, to Broward Health Medical Center reporting that M.N. 14
had fallen from a couch and sustained a black eye while they 15
were at the home of Juan Santos, where Ms. Walsh and M.N. were 16
living at the time, and 17
WHEREAS, Mr. Nevarez and Ms. Walsh brought M.N. to a 18
follow-up pediatrician appointment pursuant to follow-up care 19
instructions from Broward Health Medical Center, and 20
WHEREAS, at the follow-up visit, Mr. Nevarez questioned the 21
doctor as to whether M.N. could have sustained her injuries as 22
the result of a fall, and the doctor responded that it was 23
possible, and 24
WHEREAS, on October 13, 2016, Ms. Walsh brought 5-month-old 25

CS/HB 6531, Engrossed 1 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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M.N. to Northwest Medical Center, in Broward County, with a 26
fever and intermittent leg pain, and 27
WHEREAS, diagnostic imaging revealed that M.N. had multiple 28
fractures in her upper and lower extremities which were in 29
different stages of healing, including fractures to her left 30
tibia, left fibula, and left radius, which Ms. Walsh had no 31
explanation for, and 32
WHEREAS, the treating physician consulted with a pediatric 33
orthopedic specialist who, upon reviewing M.N.'s diagnostic 34
imaging, advised that the fractures appeared to be non-35
accidental and recommended that her injuries be reported to the 36
Florida Abuse Hotline overseen by the Department of Children and 37
Families, and 38
WHEREAS, a report was made to the Florida Abuse Hotline and 39
was assigned to the Broward County Sheriff's Office (BSO), the 40
agency responsible for child protective investigations in 41
Broward County, and 42
WHEREAS, a BSO child protective investigator (CPI) 43
responded to the hospital, observed the injuries, learned that 44
they were unexplained and occurred under the care of Ms. Walsh 45
while living with Mr. Santos, and noted that Ms. Walsh had 46
previously taken M.N. to multiple facilities for treatment for 47
various injuries, including the prior black eye, and 48
WHEREAS, Mr. Nevarez had been an active parent in M.N.'s 49
life; however, Ms. Walsh cut off contact with Mr. Nevarez in 50

CS/HB 6531, Engrossed 1 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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mid-September 2016, and refused to tell him where she and M.N. 51
were living, and 52
WHEREAS, Mr. Nevarez was the non-offending parent, meaning 53
he had no role in causing or failing to prevent M.N.'s injuries, 54
Mr. Nevarez was required to be the first person contacted by the 55
BSO during the investigation, and, if contact was initially 56
unsuccessful, the BSO was required to make daily attempts to 57
contact Mr. Nevarez, and 58
WHEREAS, the BSO failed to contact Mr. Navarez immediately, 59
failed to notify him that M.N. had multiple unexplained 60
fractures in different stages of healing, failed to immediately 61
place M.N. with Mr. Nevarez for her protection, and failed to 62
make daily attempts to contact Mr. Nevarez, and 63
WHEREAS, when an abuse investigation is initiated at a 64
hospital emergency room, the CPI is required to consult with the 65
attending physician to determine whether the injury is the 66
result of maltreatment and immediately contact the Child 67
Protective Team (CPT) in person or by phone to discuss all 68
reports of fractures in a child of any age; however, the BSO 69
failed to consult with the attending physician and failed to 70
contact the CPT from the hospital, and 71
WHEREAS, during an abuse investigation, the BSO's 72
assessment of the safety and perceived needs of the child and 73
family must include a face-to-face interview with the child, 74
other siblings, parents, and other adults in the household; 75

CS/HB 6531, Engrossed 1 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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however, the BSO failed to interview Mr. Santos, and 76
WHEREAS, the BSO is require