36 Claims Bills, One Week Left
March 2nd, 2012 by flanewsThere are 36 claims bills worth more than 100 million dollars awaiting legislative approval. Yesterday Governor Rick Scott rushed to sign legislation to pay restitution to a man who spent 27 years behind bars for a murder he didn’t commit. As Whitney Ray tells us, the claims process can take years because after the judge decides the victim is owed money, state lawmakers still have to sign off on the deal.
Speechless, William Dillon could barely utter a word for minutes after Governor Rick Scott signed a bill making the former convicted murderer a millionaire.
Dillon spent 27 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. He was released in 2008 after DNA evidence proved his innocence.
“Just to tell people not to ever give up, don’t ever give up,” said Dillon.
Dillon, now 52, was an athlete and a musician when he was thrown in jail in 1981.
Since his release he has played a charity baseball game and recorded an album. He says the 1.3 million dollars he’ll receive from the state won’t make up for lost time.
There are 36 other claims bills still waiting to be heard. With just a week left in session, the families are praying for a miracle. Aaron Edwards, spells out words for him mom to interpret.
While still in the womb a nurse at a Florida hospital gave his mother the wrong dosage and when Aaron lost oxygen, there was no one around to perform an emergency C-section. Aaron suffered brain damage.
“Ever extra penny I have goes to things Medicaid doesn’t cover,” said Mitzi Roden.
A judge awarded Aaron 30 million dollars. Mitzi says the money is needed for special schooling, technology to help Aaron communicate and to take care of him after she is gone.
Among those bills still awaiting approval is a two million dollar pay out to the family of an FSU student killed in a botched drug sting and 10 million dollars for a man paralyzed in a car accident with a speeding Broward County Deputy.
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