Is Florida a tort reform state?

Asked by: Dr. Fermin Hauck  |  Last update: December 5, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (51 votes)

On March 24, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 837 into law, a wide sweeping tort reform bill that served to overhaul Florida's litigation landscape.

Does Florida have tort reform?

The passage of the Florida Tort Reform Act brings significant changes to personal injury cases in Florida. Even if your accident occurred a year or two ago, if it is filed after March 2023, these rules will apply to your case.

What is a tort reform state?

“Tort reform” generally seeks to limit an individual's right to file a lawsuit, make it more difficult to obtain a trial by jury, and to limit the amount of damages awarded to the injured party.

What kind of negligence state is Florida?

In contrast, the majority of states use a comparative negligence rule. With Florida adopting this system, there are now 34 states that use a modified version of comparative negligence.

Is Florida tort reform retroactive?

The people of Florida scored an important victory recently in the ongoing legal saga related to insurance claim tort reform. Florida's Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal recently overruled a trial court ruling that allowed changes to Florida Statute 627.428 to apply retroactively.

Florida Tort Reform Exposed: What Insurance Carriers Don't Want You to Know

20 related questions found

Is tort reform a good idea?

There have been clear examples of abuses by corporations in the context of knowingly committing torts. A third front has emerged, suggesting that while some tort reform may be a good thing, the present reform ideas are ill-conceived and that reasonable compromise would be a much better idea.

What is the statute of limitations on tort in Florida?

In medical malpractice and workers' compensation cases, you have two years from the date of the injury. In assault and battery cases and other claims based on intentional torts, you typically have four years from the incident to file a lawsuit.

What is the 51 percent rule in Florida?

Florida's 51% bar rule is a legal principle that falls under the broader concept of comparative negligence. This rule states that a person can recover damages in a personal injury case as long as they are not more than 51% at fault for the incident.

What is the new negligence law in Florida?

The new laws reduce the statute of limitations for negligence claims, gives insurers a 90-day grace period for bad faith claims, changes comparative fault to contributory negligence, and other procedural changes to “even the playing field.” The new law became effective on March 24, 2023, but the effective date has been ...

What are the 4 elements of negligence in Florida?

What are the 4 Elements of Negligence in Florida?
  • Duty of Care. First, you need to show that the person/entity who injured them owed them a duty of care. ...
  • Breach of Duty. The second element requires you to prove a breach of duty to create a legal cause of action. ...
  • Causation. ...
  • Damages/Injury.

What are the best states for tort reform?

Mississippi, Nevada, Michigan, Colorado, and Louisiana have been most successful at reforming medical tort; the least successful include Vermont, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Iowa.

Which states are tort states?

Tort States
  • Alabama.
  • Alaska.
  • Arizona.
  • Arkansas.
  • California.
  • Colorado.
  • Connecticut.
  • Delaware.

Why do some people oppose tort law reform?

Opponents of tort reform, on the other hand, argue that there is no reliable empirical evidence that the tort “reforms” that have been enacted over the last several decades have achieved any laudable purpose, such as creating and retaining jobs or significantly reducing costs.

What is a tort in Florida?

In Florida, a tort case is a civil claim filed over the actions of one party that resulted in the harm of another party, or that party's property. By filing a claim in a Florida Court, the claimant seeks reparation for the damages caused.

How many states have tort reform?

Thirty-five states have tort reform and have placed a cap on noneconomic damages. These caps range from $250,000 to $2,350,000 with the median cap of $465,900. Only 8 states have placed a cap on total economic damages.

Can you sue the state of Florida for negligence?

General Liability and Automobile Liability Claims Process

The State of Florida waived its sovereign immunity to be sued for negligence claims (tort claims) in 1972 with the passage of s.

What is the tort reform in Florida?

On March 24, 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 837 / SB 238 into law, passing extensive tort reform measures pertaining to civil litigation in Florida. HB 837/ SB 238 became effective law on the date of signature, March 24, 2023, and will apply to any lawsuit filed thereafter.

Is Florida a contributory negligence state?

As of March 2023, Florida now uses a modified comparative negligence approach with a 51% threshold for personal injury cases. Prior to this, the state applied pure comparative negligence when determining fault in personal injury cases.

What is the Florida Torts claims Act?

Neither the state nor its agencies or subdivisions shall be liable to pay a claim or a judgment by any one person which exceeds the sum of $200,000 or any claim or judgment, or portions thereof, which, when totaled with all other claims or judgments paid by the state or its agencies or subdivisions arising out of the ...

What is the 80 20 rule in Florida?

The 80/20 rule, a provision under the Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) of 1995, stipulates that at least 80% of the units in a 55+ community must have at least one resident aged 55 or older. The remaining 20% can be occupied by residents of any age.

What is the 25 window rule in Florida?

If more than 25% of the windows and/or doors in a pre-Florida Building Code home are being replaced and the windows/doors are NOT impact glass, the windows/doors are required to have opening protection (such as shutters).

What is the 65% law in Florida?

Criminal Rehabilitation; Specifying that to rehabilitate the offender to transition back to the community successfully is one of the primary purposes of sentencing; reducing the minimum sentence that must be served by a defendant from 85 percent of the sentence to 65 percent; revising provisions concerning gain-time to ...

What is the continuing tort doctrine in Florida?

"Under this doctrine, the limitations period runs to the date the tortious conduct ceases. . . . If the plaintiff has alleged some continuing conduct on the part of the defendants, a jury must decide whether a continuing tort has occurred." Spadaro v. City of Miramar, 855 F.

What is tort reform law?

Tort reform consists of changes in the civil justice system in common law countries that aim to reduce the ability of plaintiffs to bring tort litigation (particularly actions for negligence) or to reduce damages they can receive.

Can you sue for punitive damages in Florida?

Florida is one of a handful of states that has formally capped the amount of punitive damage awards that claimants may receive. The limitations vary based on the amount of compensatory damages allowed, and the totals can range from a $500,000 to $2,000,000.