NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The Pasco County School Board unanimously voted Tuesday to approve a settlement worth $1.2 million to Marcus Button and his family.
Button was the passenger in a car struck by a Pasco County school bus in 2006.
What You Need To Know
- Pasco School Board voted Tuesday to approve a settlement worth $1.2 million to Marcus Button
- Marcus Button claims bill is asking legislators to force Pasco Schools to pay $1.5 million in damages after a jury found the district liable for the 2006 bus crash
- PREVIOUS STORY: Marcus Button Bill to be debated during legislative session
Now 33, Button suffered significant brain injuries that impair his vision, short-term memory and impulse controls.
In 2007, the Button family filed a lawsuit against the district and the trial court found the Pasco School District to be liable. The court ordered the district to pay a final judgement in the amount of $1,670,364.24.
Since that time, claims bills have been filed in the Florida Legislature seeking the payment of this claim by the district, but none have passed. Currently, both the House and Senate have claim bills pending in the amount of $1,507,364.24 (the House claim bill was initially seeking over $2.7 million).
The family says the school district has only sent a settlement of $163,000 for Marcus’ care — the most the district is required to pay because of a legislative immunity cap.
For years the Buttons have remained hopeful legislators will act, passing the claims bill that would force Pasco Schools to pay out the remaining jury award.
The state legislature still needs to approve the settlement and have Gov. Ron DeSantis sign it.