The process by which people injured by the government collect damages in the form of claims bills passed by lawmakers is arbitrary, political and lacks transparency, Florida TaxWatch said in a report Thursday.
The report also found there’s been an increase in the amount of claims paid. Last year, 11 claim bills were passed by the Legislature, awarding just under $40 million, including the first two ever claims bills to top $10 million. There are 25 claims bills seeking more than $50 million in total damages filed for this session.
“As more high-cost settlements are approved, there is likely to be a growing call for ever-increasing awards,” said Dominic M. Calabro, TaxWatch president. “The size of these awards must be controlled in order to avoid each new award setting a precedent that leads to further escalation of the size of claims against the state and local governments and their taxpayers.”
The government spending watchdog recommended a cap on non-economic damages in claims bills, creating an expedited process to deal with settled claims bills and a limit on lobbying fees for claims bills.
The group also suggested other changes aimed at reducing what people collect, and limiting claims bills to being filed by the local legislator representing the injured person.
