This bill is designed to provide financial relief to the Estate of Mark LaGatta, who suffered severe injuries due to the negligence of the Department of Transportation. On July 27, 2020, while riding his motorcycle, Mr. LaGatta was involved in a collision caused by a Department employee operating a tractor in a work zone. As a result of the accident, Mr. LaGatta sustained significant injuries, including the amputation of his left leg, and he was later awarded a judgment of $2.32 million in a civil action against the Department. However, he passed away in August 2024, and the bill seeks to appropriate $2.2 million from the General Revenue Fund to compensate his estate for the damages sustained.

The bill includes several key provisions: it affirms the facts stated in the preamble, appropriates the specified amount for the estate, directs the Chief Financial Officer to issue a warrant for payment, and establishes that the total compensation from the Department, including the amount awarded under this act, is intended to cover all present and future claims related to the incident. Additionally, it sets a limitation on attorney fees, capping them at 25 percent of the total amount awarded. The act will take effect upon becoming law.