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Paralyzed girl gains ground in Legislature
By TAMARA LUSH
Published April 13, 2005
TALLAHASSEE - Minouche Noel's fight for justice took a step forward Wednesday.
A House Claims Committee voted unanimously to pay her $8.5-million for a medical malpractice claim from botched surgery at a state-run health clinic when she was 6 months old.
The surgery left Minouche, 17, paralyzed from the waist down. A jury in 1999 awarded her $8.5-million, but state law caps such claims at $200,000 without the Legislature's consent.
Minouche and her family have tried for five years to win approval from the Legislature.
Members of the House Claims Committee became emotional Wednesday when hearing her case.
"The time has come to pay for the damage that has been done to this child," said Rep. Charles Dean, R-Inverness, who had tears in his eyes as he watched a video of Minouche crawling on her bathroom floor because her wheelchair is too big to fit through the door.
The bill now goes to two other House committees. The Senate has not taken up the bill and it is unclear whether it will before the Legislature adjourns May 6.
[Last modified April 13, 2005, 17:31:27]
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