Florida families want their injury compensation; State poses hurdle

A South Florida family is lobbying lawmakers to get compensation more than 10 years after a Broward County deputy crashed into their son's car paralyzing him.

The question is, does the state have enough money to pay the claim.

Eric Brody was a senior getting ready for his graduation when a deputy ran into his car. That was in 1998. Brody was left paralyzed and severely brain damaged.

He's now 29 years old and will need care the rest of his life.

That's why he and his family are spending a lot of time in Tallahassee lobbying lawmakers to pass a claims bill that would allow him to collect the nearly $31 million that was awarded to him by a jury.

Under the Florida Constitution, governments are held liable up to $200,000.

When a jury awards a higher amount, the Legislature must pass a claims bill before the amount can be paid.

Lawmakers have approved nearly two dozen claims bills in the past two years. But this year could be different because the state is facing a budget shortfall.

"Maybe if they actually see the individual in front of them they'll realize that we're up here to try to get the money to get our son , to improve our son, to improve his way of life," said Charles Brody, Eric's father.

The Brody's claims bill went before a House committee Monday but action was delayed because there was so much discussion of the bill that the committee ran out of time.

It's expected to come up at the next committee meeting.