TAMPA, Fla. — The Marcus Button claims bill has been approved by legislators in both the Florida Senate and House, bringing to close a nearly two-decade fight for a Bay area family.
Marcus Button was 16 when the car he was riding in was struck by a Pasco County School Bus.
The accident happened in 2006, but only a small portion of the $1.6 million judgement was paid to Button because of a state law capping the amount of money Pasco Schools was required to pay.
The claims bill sought to bypass the legislative cap, but for several years it never made it through Florida’s regular legislative session. The claims bill passed its final vote earlier this week, and is now awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.
The vote brought relief for Marcus, who still carries medical issues and physical limitations.
“It haunts me,” he said. “I don’t like being by large trucks, buses, semis, large trailers. I’m nervous on the road all the time.”
Button was just days away from taking his behind the wheel examination for his driver’s license when the accident happened.
Now, at 34 years old, he will never drive a car again.
He is on more than a dozen medications to help control his mood, temperament as well as to help with memory issues.
At his home in the Carrollwood area, his mother, Robin, has notes taped up all over the house with little reminders to help with daily household tasks.
Robin lost her husband to cancer, and since then has been the sole caretaker for Marcus.
“Learning how to be more independent self,” Robin said of her son’s future. “Learning to take care of his household. Maybe learning to take care of his bills and so on and so forth. Because I am not going to be there.”
Although the Marcus Button claims bill has been approved by legislators, the family will have to wait a little longer for the settlement.
Lance Block is an attorney and the lobbyist that represented the family in Tallahassee for years.
In a statement, he said: ”Usually it takes a few weeks after the Legislature adjourns before the Governor signs the bill. I cannot recall a claim bill ever being vetoed by a Governor, and I have represented clients, like the Buttons, before the Legislature for more than thirty years. “
Although the Button family says a settlement was delayed, the Pasco County School Board approved the settlement last February, which paved the way for the claims bill's success this year.
Pasco County and many other school districts across Florida do not carry insurance for bus fleets, which means in the event of an accident, in most cases a state law capping the amount of a lawsuit is set at $200,000.
The Button family says Marcus’ medical bills in the first week of the accident had already topped $1 million.
Robin Button said she plans to work with a financial adviser to save and invest the settlement amount so it can last Marcus’ lifetime to fund his ongoing care and treatment.
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