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HB 6521

Relief/Jacob Rodgers/City of Gainesville

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Meg Weinberger

HB 6521 authorizes a $10,800,000 settlement to Jacob Rodgers for injuries from a 2015 Gainesville crash involving a city employee, resolving the contested claim.

Chapter No. 2025-253
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Bill Summary · HB 6521

HB 6521 — Relief/Jacob Rodgers/City of Gainesville (Chapter No. 2025-253)

Purpose / Overview

HB 6521 is a local, contested claims bill that authorizes payment to compensate Jacob Rodgers for severe injuries he suffered in a motor vehicle collision involving a City of Gainesville employee driving a city-owned vehicle. The bill implements a settlement between Mr. Rodgers and the City of Gainesville by providing for payment of $10,800,000 (drawn from an $11,000,000 settlement, $200,000 of which the City already paid).

Note: the bill header lists an “Introduced” date of November 25, 2025 that conflicts with the legislative-action timeline. The official legislative history shows filing and committee action in early 2025 and final approval in April–June 2025; the bill became Chapter No. 2025-253.

Key factual findings (from Special Master’s report)

  • Incident date: October 7, 2015.
  • Parties: Jacob Rodgers (passenger), driver of his truck Hank Blackwell, and City employee William Stormont (driving a City-owned vehicle).
  • Circumstances: Mr. Stormont ran a stop sign while returning from checking a City electric substation gate and collided with the truck carrying Mr. Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers and another passenger were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected; Mr. Rodgers is now paraplegic (paralyzed from the chest down).
  • Official actions: Florida Highway Patrol cited Mr. Stormont for failure to stop; the City suspended him five days. Mr. Blackwell was not cited.

Damages and financials

  • Settlement amount: $11,000,000 total; HB 6521 provides for $10,800,000 (netting the $200,000 already paid).
  • Documented past medical expenses: $484,181.24 (with $4,814.57 outstanding).
  • Medical liens: $285,683.88.
  • Present value of future medical care (per Life Care Plan): ≈ $4,200,000.
  • Present value of loss of household services: ≈ $738,817.
  • Additional damages include lost earnings/opportunity (Mr. Rodgers had been training as an electrician and is no longer able to perform that work).

Legal issues contested

  • The City reserved the right to contest liability, arguing the employee was not acting within the course and scope of employment when the crash occurred.
  • Alternatively, the City contended damages should be reduced based on comparative negligence given that Mr. Rodgers and the truck driver were not wearing seatbelts.
  • The Special Master reviewed the record and recommended the bill be reported favorably.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiary: Jacob Rodgers (personal compensation for past and future medical expenses, household services, and related damages).
  • Financially affected: City of Gainesville (pays settlement amount pursuant to this local claims bill).
  • Administrative/legal: resolves outstanding contested claim and related liens/claims.

Legislative and procedural history (selected)

  • Filed / First reading: February–March 2025 (per legislative actions).
  • Committee actions: Reported favorably by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee (3/27/2025) and by Judiciary Committee (4/8/2025).
  • Floor action: Passed both chambers (House 113–0 on 4/24/2025; Senate 36–0 on 4/28/2025).
  • Enrollment/Presentation: Ordered enrolled and presented to Governor in late April 2025.
  • Governor action: Approved June 13, 2025.
  • Chapter law: Chapter No. 2025-253.

Practical effect

By becoming law, HB 6521 effectuates the negotiated settlement and authorizes payment totaling $10.8 million to resolve Mr. Rodgers’s claims arising from the 2015 crash, thereby closing the contested claim against the City of Gainesville and providing funds to cover substantial past and projected future medical care and related losses.

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

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