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Florida Legislature 2005 (click for ongoing coverage)

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Senate set to consider anti-hazing measure

Today is Day 53 of the 60-day session of the Florida Legislature.

Chad Meredith had dreams of working in politics as a lawyer when the University of Miami freshman drowned while swimming across a lake with members of a fraternity he hoped to join.

"Chad had always said, "I'll do something good in this world, Dad,' " said William Meredith, who hopes Florida legislators will pass a law making hazing a crime. "This is the type of legislation he would have been trying to get passed himself."

The measure, to be discussed by senators today, would make hazing resulting in serious injury or death a third-degree felony and would make putting someone at risk for such injuries a first-degree misdemeanor - even if the victim consents. It would make Florida one of eight states that consider some types of hazing a felony, according to an online database compiled by StopHazing.org.

"This will send a message that these senseless acts won't be tolerated any longer," said Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, sponsor of the bill, which has passed the House.

Stores could not be sued for merely selling defective products, companies would get a chance to remedy problems before facing a class action suit, and defendants with a small role in hurting someone would pay only a small portion of the damages under bills that passed easily Thursday in the House.

The Legislature, dominated by Republicans, has made controlling lawsuits a major part of its agenda this year.

Opponents say legitimately injured victims will be denied justice and the poor who can't afford to pay lawyers for small grievances will suffer most.

But Rep. Don Brown said businesses are crumbling under the weight of unfair lawsuits. "We need to create a better environment in the state of Florida so that we can have jobs," said Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, before the House passed his bill (House Bill 1513), 79-32, and sent it to the Senate.

His bill seeks to eliminate the legal doctrine of "joint and several liability," which allows defendants with a small role in hurting someone to be assessed a large share of the damages.

The measure also would prohibit people from suing a merchant for selling a defective product unless the seller was involved somehow in designing, making or modifying it.

Another bill (HB 1925), passed 90-20, seeks to decrease business exposure to class action suits. Sponsored by Rep. David Simmons, R-Longwood, it would block out-of-state residents from joining many Florida class action suits and give defendants 60 days to settle the case and fix whatever is wrong before such a suit is filed.

[Last modified April 29, 2005, 00:33:10]