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SB 616

Damages Recoverable in Wrongful Death Actions

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Danny Burgess and 1 co-sponsor

SB 616 would expand recoverable damages in Florida wrongful death lawsuits but died in committee without passage during 2025 session.

Died in Judiciary
#(adopted) #subjectindex #torts
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Bill Summary · SB 616

Legislative bill overview

SB 616 would modify Florida's wrongful death damages law to expand the types of economic and non-economic compensation available to surviving family members. The bill died in the Judiciary Committee without advancing to a floor vote, indicating it did not achieve sufficient support for passage during the 2025 legislative session.

Why is this important

Wrongful death statutes directly affect how families can be compensated when someone dies due to another's negligence or intentional conduct. Changes to recoverable damages impact both plaintiffs seeking justice and defendants facing liability, with broader implications for insurance costs, healthcare provider practices, and civil litigation patterns in Florida.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of compensable damages: Expanding what families can recover (pain and suffering of the deceased, loss of companionship, etc.) increases litigation costs and defendant liability exposure, which insurance and business groups typically oppose
  • Economic versus non-economic limits: Disagreement over whether caps should exist on subjective damages versus quantifiable losses like lost income and medical expenses
  • Impact on medical malpractice and healthcare: Healthcare providers and insurers often resist expanded damages in wrongful death cases due to cost implications for malpractice coverage and defensive medicine practices

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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