In December 2013, tragedy struck the Medrano family when Hilda Medrano lost her life while riding as a passenger in her cousin’s vehicle in downtown Okeechobee, FL. Hilda’s vehicle was traveling at the speed limit, but Okeechobee Police Deputy, Joseph Gracie, was driving 87 mph without activating his emergency lights or sirens. Tragically, without warning, Deputy Gracie crashed his police cruiser into the passenger side of Hilda’s vehicle, resulting in the loss of Hilda Medrano’s life.
The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Department investigation found that Deputy Gracie’s actions were unbecoming of an officer and in violation of four standard operating procedures of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office. The Florida Highway Patrol also performed an investigation, which confirmed the negligence of Deputy Gracie.
Zebersky Payne Shaw Lewenz attorneys, Edward Zebersky and Steffani Russo, represented the Medrano Family and immediately recognized the gravity of the Medrano family’s loss and the importance of seeking justice. After a rigorous and emotionally challenging trial, the jury rendered a verdict, awarding Ricardo and Eva Medrano $5 million in damages. However, Florida has a statutory limit of $200,000 for this type of lawsuit.
“I still remember when the jury reached a verdict several years ago, it was the most emotional moment in my career.”
To be compensated above the statutory limit, the Medrano family needed a claims bill approved by the House and Senate. Recognizing the need to secure the awarded damages for the Medrano family, the ZPSL Team went to work again. Attorneys Zebersky, Russo, and the rest of the ZPSL Team, along with lobbyist Albert Balido, worked closely with legislators to draft a claims bill and assisted with the process from inception through completion.
The Bill, titled "An act for the relief of Ricardo Medrano-Arzate and Eva Chavez-Medrano, as personal representatives of Hilda Medrano, by the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office” sought to appropriate funds to Hilda’s parents and provide closure for her family. The Bill was filed on August 1, 2022, but still, there were challenges. Finally, on April 19, 2023, the Florida House Judiciary Committee and Rules Committee supported the Bill. On June 9, 2023, the bill known formally as SB 12 was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis, and Okeechobee County agreed to pay $1.2 Million Dollars to Hilda Medrano’s family.
“While no amount of money can truly compensate a parent for the loss of a child, our hope is that our verdict and SB 12 is a small step towards closure and healing for this wonderful family”
