New Bill to Limit Florida Slip-and-Fall Suits
A new bill has been signed by Governor Charlie Crist that will make it harder for victims to win slip-and-fall lawsuits against Florida businesses. Once the new law comes into effect on July 1, 2010, victims will be required to prove that a business knew or should have known that a dangerous condition had existed for a sufficient time or that it was a foreseeable hazard. This new law will overrule the Florida Supreme Court and change a 2001 ruling that removed a similar requirement from state law. In effect, Governor Crist is undoing what the courts have done, making it harder for victims and their trial lawyers to bring suit. Although the Supreme Court of Florida forced businesses to be more aware of its property and any potential dangers it presented, the demand for increased awareness and communication is no longer necessary, allowing businesses the ability to ignore immediate threats or dangers.
