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Florida Prisoner's Respiratory Injury Nets $112,000
A 32-year-old female Florida prisoner sued the Department of Corrections (DOC) after she suffered respiratory dysfunction from inhaling chlorine gas while changing a chlorine cylinder at her prison's water/sewage treatment plant. Because she was not trained or certified to perform the work assigned her, she alleged DOC was negligent for this 1990 injury. DOC denied that claim, arguing the prisoner was negligent and she caused her own injuries. In 1996, a jury awarded the prisoner $10,307 in past medical, $73,000 future medical, $20,000 past wage loss, $2,000 in pain and suffering and $7,000 in other damages, for a total of $112,507. The jury however, found the
prisoner 90% comparatively negligent and the award was reduced accordingly. See: Stevens v.
Florida Dept. of Corrections, 17th Judicial Circuit, Florida, Case No 94-01796.
prisoner 90% comparatively negligent and the award was reduced accordingly. See: Stevens v.
Florida Dept. of Corrections, 17th Judicial Circuit, Florida, Case No 94-01796.
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Related legal case
Stevens v. Florida Dept. of Corrections
| Year | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 17th Judicial Circuit, Florida, Case No 94-01796 |
| Level | State Trial Court |
| Conclusion | Jury Verdict |
| Attorney Fees | 0 |
| Damages | 112000 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |