WHAT TO EXPECT FROM HB 837
IS IT REALLY GOING TO HELP THE AVERAGE FLORIDIAN?
If you read our last newsletter, you might remember our article about the
for their own damages. So, if you were 95% at fault, you could still get money back for the remaining 5%. This is no longer the case with HB 837. Now, anyone who is 51% liable or more cannot seek reparation for the remaining amount, even if the opposing party was responsible for the other 49%. In addition to the comparative negligence change, HB 837 also introduced changes to the statute of limitations for general negligence actions (from four years to two), admissible evidence related to medical damages, bad faith actions (giving insurance companies more leeway), and one-way attorney’s fees. Proponents of the new law claim that these reforms will help bring down insurance costs. Florida has been ranked the most expensive state for property and automobile insurance over the last two years, so it seems like this
comprehensive reforms proposed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. In March, DeSantis signed Florida House Bill 837 into law with the hope that it would “decrease frivolous lawsuits and prevent predatory practices of trial attorneys who prey on hardworking Floridians.” Those who watched the news and heard the governor’s words on the topic or read through what other politicians are saying might assume that this is a win for the average Floridian. But that is not necessarily the case. One of the most significant changes from HB 837 is the switch from pure to modified comparative negligence. In the past, Florida had pure comparative negligence, which meant if a person was considered not responsible for any portion of an accident or incident, they could recover that percentage of compensation
would be a win for most Floridians. Still, there’s no guarantee that these reforms will actually lower the average Floridian’s insurance premiums. It’s much more likely that fewer people will be able to sue their insurance companies, and attorneys will be less likely to take on high-risk cases. Only time will tell what will result from these reforms, but things don’t look very promising for the average Floridian.
Rhubarb Crisp
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Set rack in the center of the oven. 2. In a food processor, place all topping ingredients. Pulse until the mixture is crumbled to the size of small peas. Do not over-process. Set aside. 3. Into a large, shallow baking dish, pour the rhubarb and sprinkle with sugar and flour, coating the rhubarb evenly. Spread crisp topping over entire filling mix. 4. Bake until crisp is bubbly and the top is golden brown, approximately 30–40 minutes. Serve warm or room temperature. Enjoy!
Topping: •
1/4 cup roughly chopped walnuts
•
1/4 cup old-fashioned oats (not instant)
• • • • •
1/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp unsalted butter
Filling: •
2 1/2 lbs rhubarb, cut into 1/2- inch pieces
• •
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
| 3 PERSONAL INJURY - AUTO ACCIDENT - DIVORCE
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