Florida SB 22: Relief of L.P. by the Department of Children and Families

Bill Text

22 
Relief of L.P. by the Department of Children and Families 
2025-08-01T12:19:20Z 
Providing for the relief of L.P., a minor, by the Department of Children and Families; providing an appropriation to compensate L.P. for injuries and damages sustained due to the negligence of employees and caseworkers of the department; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of fees and costs, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
GCB 
Claim Bill/General 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 (NP) SB 22 

 By Senator Gruters 

 22-00028A-26 202622__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act for the relief of L.P., a minor, by the 
 3 Department of Children and Families; providing an 
 4 appropriation to compensate L.P. for injuries and 
 5 damages sustained due to the negligence of employees 
 6 and caseworkers of the department; providing a 
 7 limitation on compensation and the payment of fees and 
 8 costs; providing an effective date. 
 9 
 10 WHEREAS, on June 25, 2015, a family member of then-6-year 
 11 old L.P. called the Sarasota Police Department to request a 
 12 wellness check of the mother of L.P. due to a suicide video the 
 13 mother sent to relatives, along with other bizarre behaviors 
 14 that called her mental fitness into question, and 
 15 WHEREAS, in response to this call, the Sarasota Police 
 16 Department complied with its statutory duty to report known or 
 17 possible child abuse by notifying the Department of Children and 
 18 Families (DCF), which, through its employees and caseworkers, 
 19 responded to the home late on June 25, 2015, but failed to 
 20 identify the mother of L.P., much less identify several 
 21 forewarnings as to the mother’s mental health status, and 
 22 WHEREAS, because of the inadequate wellness check by DCF 
 23 employees, including failure to implement a readily available 
 24 safety plan, L.P. was left in the custody of her mother, rather 
 25 than her grandmother, who is now her adopted mother and who 
 26 lived just a few houses away, and 
 27 WHEREAS, because of the negligence of the DCF caseworkers 
 28 in failing to recognize the danger to L.P., she was left in her 
 29 mother’s custody, and 
 30 WHEREAS, the mother of L.P. attempted to murder L.P. within 
 31 hours after DCF’s negligent decision, resulting in L.P. being 
 32 stabbed no fewer than 14 times, including an attempted 
 33 disembowelment, which required lifesaving emergency surgery and 
 34 multiple follow-up surgeries and treatments, and 
 35 WHEREAS, as a further consequence of the negligence of DCF 
 36 through its employees, L.P. will incur a lifetime of significant 
 37 pain, suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, 
 38 inconvenience, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, 
 39 medical costs, future surgeries, and psychological costs over a 
 40 potential duration of more than 65 years, and 
 41 WHEREAS, following a 2-week trial from February 28 through 
 42 March 11, 2022, the jury found DCF negligent and awarded L.P. 
 43 damages resulting in a final judgment in the amount of $28 
 44 million, and 
 45 WHEREAS, an appeal to the Second District Court of Appeal 
 46 affirmed the factual findings and the judgment of the jury and 
 47 trial court in the case, and 
 48 WHEREAS, in the 9 years since her mother attempted to 
 49 murder her, L.P. has incurred the costs of multiple lifesaving 
 50 surgeries, psychological counseling, and related expenses which 
 51 remain unpaid or will be incurred at over $14 million along with 
 52 a loss of earning capacity at $1.5 million, and 
 53 WHEREAS, the costs incurred in the prosecution of the 
 54 claims on behalf of L.P. exceeded $208,000, with over $8,000 
 55 remaining to be paid, and 
 56 WHEREAS, in accordance with the statutory cap of liability 
 57 set forth in s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, DCF has paid $200,000 
 58 toward the total amount of this claim, NOW, THEREFORE, 
 59 
 60 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 61 
 62 Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act are 
 63 found and declared to be true. 
 64 Section 2. The sum of $28 million is appropriated from the 
 65 General Revenue Fund to the Department of Children and Families 
 66 for the relief of L.P. for injuries and damages sustained. 
 67 Section 3. The Chief Financial Officer is directed to draw 
 68 a warrant in the sum of $28 million payable to a special needs 
 69 trust created for the exclusive use and benefit of L.P. for 
 70 injuries and damages sustained. 
 71 Section 4. The amount paid by the Department of Children 
 72 and Families pursuant to s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, and the 
 73 amount awarded under this act are intended to provide the sole 
 74 compensation for all present and future claims arising out of 
 75 the factual situation described in this act which resulted in 
 76 injuries and damages to L.P. The total amount paid for attorney 
 77 fees, lobbying fees, and other similar expenses relating to this 
 78 c