Florida Senator seeks $1.75 million for Tampa Bay woman, who died after a cop used a stun gun on her

A Senate Democrat has filed a proposal that would require the state to pay $1.75 million to the estate of a woman who was critically injured and later died after a Florida Highway Patrol officer used a stun gun on her.

Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, filed the “claim” bill (SB 18) on Monday for consideration during the 2023 legislative session.

The bill stems from the 2011 arrest of Danielle Maudsley, 20, on traffic charges. Maudsley was taken to a Florida Highway Patrol substation in Pinellas Park for processing.

While handcuffed, Maudsley tried to flee by running out a side door. A trooper followed and fired his stun gun into her back, causing the woman to fall to the pavement, the bill said.

Maudsley suffered a traumatic brain injury and remained in a vegetative state until she died in September 2013, according to the bill.

A $1.95 million settlement was reached in 2015, but sovereign-immunity laws prevented the state from paying more than $200,000 without legislative passage of a claim bill. Jones’ bill would direct payment of the remaining $1.75 million.

Attempts to pass similar bills for the Maudsley estate have failed in past sessions.

This article appears in Jul 28 – Aug 3, 2022.