In 2017 Lourdes Latour suffered permanent nerve damage when a security gate in Miami-Dade struck her. This year, she may finally receive payment the county agreed to give her for the pain and suffering she’s endured.
Twin bills (SB 24, HB 6515) are poised for floor votes in the Senate and House after clearing their last committee hurdles this week on unanimous votes.
If approved, they’ll clear $500,000 to Latour and her husband, Edward, that’s been blocked by Florida law since they won a verdict last year.
SB 24 and HB 6515 are claims bills, a special classification of legislation intended to compensate a person or entity for injury or loss due to the negligence or error of a public officer or agency.
Claims bills arise when the damages a claimant seeks are above the thresholds set in Florida’s sovereign immunity law, which today caps payouts at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident.
Last month, the House voted 104-7 to increase the caps to $500,000 and $1 million, respectively, with a 20% increase in 2031.
On Nov. 5, 2017, Latour was struck and thrown from her bicycle by a malfunctioning gate arm while exiting the Gables by the Sea community. She and her husband sued Miami-Dade in 2018, claiming the county was negligent in owning, operating and maintaining the gate.
A jury found Miami-Dade 100% liable in January 2025, awarding the couple more than $4.9 million in damages for long-term pain and suffering, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment, loss of companionship and service.
Because of Florida’s liability limits for government entities, the parties ultimately settled for $800,000, with $300,000 paid directly by the county under Florida’s restrictive law and $500,000 contingent on approval of a claims bill.
Sarasota Republican Sen. Joe Gruters and Coral Gables Republican Rep. Demi Busatta are sponsoring the SB 24 and HB 6515, respectively.
Doral Republican Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, who is co-sponsoring SB 24, presented the bill in committee Tuesday.
