Florida Statute 768.17 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XLV
TORTS

Chapter 768
NEGLIGENCE

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F.S. 768.17

768.17 Legislative intent.—It is the public policy of the state to shift the losses resulting when wrongful death occurs from the survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer. Sections 768.16-768.26 are remedial and shall be liberally construed.

History.—s. 1, ch. 72-35; s. 106, ch. 2003-1.

F.S. 768.17 on Google Scholar

F.S. 768.17 on CourtListener

Amendments to 768.17

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 768.17

Total Results: 50

BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. v. Meeks

863 So. 2d 287, 28 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 775, 2003 Fla. LEXIS 1730, 2003 WL 22349663

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Oct 16, 2003 | Docket: 1432217

Cited 67 times | Published

are remedial and shall be liberally construed. § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2002) (emphasis added). With this

McKibben v. Mallory

293 So. 2d 48

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Mar 20, 1974 | Docket: 1754500

Cited 60 times | Published

Florida in Chapter 72-35, Laws of Florida, Section 768.17, the legislative intent in adopting these provisions

Piamba Cortes Ex Rel. Piamba Cortes v. American Airlines, Inc.

177 F.3d 1272, 1999 A.M.C. 2286, 1999 U.S. App. LEXIS 13191

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Jun 15, 1999 | Docket: 395372

Cited 51 times | Published

the decedent to the wrongdoer.” Fla. Stat. Ann. § 768.17. Although Florida has not enacted restrictions

Stern v. Miller

348 So. 2d 303

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jun 9, 1977 | Docket: 1760683

Cited 45 times | Published

legislature for enacting the present statute. See Section 768.17, Florida Statutes. As compelling as these arguments

Robert McK Foster, as Personal Representative of the Estates of Almon O. Thompson, Deceased, and Doris E. Thompson, Deceased v. United States

768 F.2d 1278, 1985 U.S. App. LEXIS 21342

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Aug 16, 1985 | Docket: 284844

Cited 39 times | Published

to the wrongdoer. See Fla.Stat.Ann. § 768.17; Elliott v. Willis, 89 Ill.App.3d 1144

Cortes v. American Airlines, Inc.

177 F.3d 1272

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Jun 15, 1999 | Docket: 395371

Cited 33 times | Published

the decedent to the wrongdoer.” Fla. Stat. Ann. § 768.17. Although Florida has not enacted restrictions

Mullarkey v. Florida Feed Mills, Inc.

268 So. 2d 363

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Oct 25, 1972 | Docket: 1476990

Cited 24 times | Published

survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer." F.S., § 768.17, F.S.A. See U. of Fla.Law Review, Vol. XXIV, No

Florida Convalescent Centers v. Somberg

840 So. 2d 998, 28 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 122, 2003 Fla. LEXIS 166, 2003 WL 252155

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Feb 6, 2003 | Docket: 1748290

Cited 17 times | Published

the survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer." § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (1997). The survivors that can recover

Toombs v. Alamo Rent-A-Car, Inc.

833 So. 2d 109, 27 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 915, 2002 Fla. LEXIS 2270, 2002 WL 31426259

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Oct 31, 2002 | Docket: 1675643

Cited 15 times | Published

construed to effect its remedial purposes. See § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2001); see also, Stern v. Miller

Delta Air Lines, Inc. v. Ageloff

552 So. 2d 1089, 14 Fla. L. Weekly 546, 1989 Fla. LEXIS 1037, 1989 WL 128589

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Oct 26, 1989 | Docket: 1200523

Cited 15 times | Published

remedial and shall be liberally construed, section 768.17, Florida Statutes (1987), we hold that the

Laizure v. Avante at Leesburg, Inc.

109 So. 3d 752, 38 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 102, 2013 WL 535417, 2013 Fla. LEXIS 249

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Feb 14, 2013 | Docket: 60229788

Cited 12 times | Published

the survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer.” § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2008). Sections 768.16-26, Florida

Capone v. Philip Morris USA, Inc.

116 So. 3d 363, 38 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 402, 2013 WL 2631180, 2013 Fla. LEXIS 1180

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jun 13, 2013 | Docket: 60232348

Cited 11 times | Published

is] remedial and shall be liberally construed.” § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2008). See also Perkins, 445 So.2d

Ellis v. Humana of Florida, Inc.

569 So. 2d 827, 1990 WL 165351

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 1, 1990 | Docket: 1190151

Cited 10 times | Published

959, 93 S.Ct. 1409, 35 L.Ed.2d 694 (1973). [2] § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (1987). [3] In McNamara this court

Greenfield v. Daniels

51 So. 3d 421, 35 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 685, 2010 Fla. LEXIS 2012, 2010 WL 4740297

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 24, 2010 | Docket: 2406988

Cited 9 times | Published

underlying the Florida Wrongful Death Act in section 768.17, Florida Statutes. That provision states:

Meeks v. Florida Power & Light Co.

816 So. 2d 1125, 2002 WL 440384

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 22, 2002 | Docket: 1753591

Cited 8 times | Published

is "remedial and shall be liberally construed." § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (1997); see also Golf Channel v. Jenkins

Meeks v. Florida Power & Light Co.

816 So. 2d 1125, 2002 WL 440384

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 22, 2002 | Docket: 1753591

Cited 8 times | Published

is "remedial and shall be liberally construed." § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (1997); see also Golf Channel v. Jenkins

Funchess v. Gulf Stream Apartments

611 So. 2d 43, 1992 WL 379848

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 23, 1992 | Docket: 2516807

Cited 7 times | Published

proceeding. (emphasis added). Appellant points out section 768.17, Florida Statutes (1989), provides the wrongful

Wagner, Vaughan, McLaughlin & Brennan, P.A. v. Kennedy Law Group

64 So. 3d 1187, 36 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 133, 2011 Fla. LEXIS 780, 2011 WL 1304921

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Apr 7, 2011 | Docket: 2364032

Cited 6 times | Published

the survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer. § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2005). The Act is designed to substitute

Bermudez v. Florida Power & Light Co.

433 So. 2d 565

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 24, 1983 | Docket: 1426003

Cited 6 times | Published

are remedial and shall be liberally construed. § 768.17, Fla. Stat. It seems clear to us that the 1972

Gwendolyn E. Odom, etc. v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

254 So. 3d 268

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 20, 2018 | Docket: 7943260

Cited 5 times | Published

decedent to the wrongdoer." Id. § 768.17. Prior to 1990, the wrongful death statute "only

Jolley v. SEAMCO LABORATORIES INC.

828 So. 2d 1050, 2002 WL 31307120

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 16, 2002 | Docket: 1523220

Cited 5 times | Published

contrary to the clear intent of the legislature. § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2001); Stern v. Miller, 348 So.2d

Smyer v. Gaines

332 So. 2d 655

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 3, 1976 | Docket: 1314486

Cited 5 times | Published

evaluate and withhold the true facts... ." Section 768.17, Florida Statutes, provides: "It is the public

Domino's Pizza v. Wiederhold

248 So. 3d 212

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 7, 2018 | Docket: 6773033

Cited 4 times | Published

contrary to the legislative intent expressed in section 768.17, Florida Statutes (2012), which states, “It

Kelly v. Georgia-Pacific, LLC

211 So. 3d 340, 2017 WL 697746, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 2413

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 22, 2017 | Docket: 60262589

Cited 4 times | Published

the survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer.” § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2015). This constitutes an unequivocal

Estate of McCall v. United States

663 F. Supp. 2d 1276, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95302, 2009 WL 3163183

District Court, N.D. Florida | Filed: Sep 30, 2009 | Docket: 879550

Cited 4 times | Published

So.2d 287, 290 (Fla. 2003) (citing Fla. Stat. § 768.17). While the statute provides that the child's

Miller v. Highlands Insurance Company

336 So. 2d 636, 1976 Fla. App. LEXIS 15359

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 6, 1976 | Docket: 1378768

Cited 4 times | Published

views to accept we must give appropriate weight to § 768.17, which provides: "It is the public policy of the

Burks v. Beary

713 F. Supp. 2d 1350, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42267, 2010 WL 1742086

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Apr 29, 2010 | Docket: 2403356

Cited 3 times | Published

the survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer." § 768.17, Fla. Stat. The Act provides a right of action

King v. Font Corp.

612 So. 2d 662, 1993 WL 10568

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 20, 1993 | Docket: 1262728

Cited 3 times | Published

death from the survivor(s) to the wrongdoer(s). § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (Supp. 1990). In light of these factors

McPhail v. Jenkins

382 So. 2d 1329

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 25, 1980 | Docket: 1369087

Cited 3 times | Published

construed retroactively, they contend that since Section 768.17 provides that provisions of the wrongful death

Daniels v. Greenfield

15 So. 3d 908, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 10724, 2009 WL 2382377

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 5, 2009 | Docket: 1660767

Cited 2 times | Published

the survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer." § 768.17, Fla. Stat. See also Fla. Convalescent Ctrs. v

Enterprise Leasing Co. v. Sosa

907 So. 2d 1239, 2005 Fla. App. LEXIS 11054, 2005 WL 1678541

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 20, 2005 | Docket: 1574493

Cited 2 times | Published

the survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer." § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2000). Such an express legislative

Young v. ST. VINCENT'S MEDICAL CENTER

653 So. 2d 499, 1995 WL 234614

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 24, 1995 | Docket: 552214

Cited 2 times | Published

promoting the object of the legislative enactment. Section 768.17, Florida Statutes, entitled "[l]egislative

England v. United States

632 F. Supp. 1340, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26770

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Apr 14, 1986 | Docket: 2113165

Cited 2 times | Published

Hospital, 445 So.2d at 1012. See also Fla.Stat. § 768.17 (1983) (Florida's Wrongful Death Act is remedial

Sharbaugh v. Beaudry

267 F. Supp. 3d 1326

District Court, N.D. Florida | Filed: Jul 14, 2017 | Docket: 64315301

Cited 1 times | Published

loss from the decedent’s death. See Fla. Stat, § 768.17; see also Brazier, 293 F.2d at 409 (instructing

Starling v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

845 F. Supp. 2d 1215, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 151514, 2011 WL 6965854

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Nov 2, 2011 | Docket: 65979342

Cited 1 times | Published

of the decedent to the wrongdoer.” Fla. Stat. § 768.17. It comports with the legislative intent to ensure

Cunningham v. Florida Department of Children & Families

782 So. 2d 913, 2001 Fla. App. LEXIS 4120, 2001 WL 277032

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 22, 2001 | Docket: 64804844

Cited 1 times | Published

survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer.” See § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (1991). The Act is “remedial and shall

Owens v. Jackson

493 So. 2d 507, 11 Fla. L. Weekly 1828, 1986 Fla. App. LEXIS 9466

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 20, 1986 | Docket: 64621329

Cited 1 times | Published

“remedial and shall be liberally construed.” Section 768.-17, Florida Statutes (1975). The term “dependent”

Jennifer Ripple, etc. v. CBS Corporation

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 9, 2024 | Docket: 68514362

Published

remedial and shall be liberally construed.” (citing § 768.17, Fla. Stat.)))). The trial court granted

PHILIP MORRIS USA INC. and R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY v. BRYAN RINTOUL, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Edward Caprio

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 11, 2022 | Docket: 63301697

Published

is] remedial and shall be liberally construed.” § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2019). Hence, the Act is designed

JENNIFER RIPPLE, as Personal Representative of the ESTATE OF RICHARD D. COUNTER v. BENNET AUTO SUPPLY

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 30, 2022 | Docket: 63198512

Published

the legislative intent expressed in section 768.17, Florida Statutes (2012), which states

SARAH JERRELS, AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF DYLAN JERRELS v. ESTATE OF JASPER W. JERRELS, JR.

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 12, 2019 | Docket: 15762823

Published

survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer." § 768.17. Accordingly, a wrongful death "action shall

Harris v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

383 F. Supp. 3d 1315

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Apr 15, 2019 | Docket: 64324705

Published

445 So. 2d 1010, 1012 (Fla. 1983) ; see also § 768.17, Fla. Stat. ("It is the public policy of the state

Cosman v. Rodriguez

153 So. 3d 371, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 20367, 2014 WL 7156334

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 17, 2014 | Docket: 2616095

Published

Act is remedial and must be liberally construed. § 768.17. The wrongdoer is liable for “damages as

Smith v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

103 So. 3d 955, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 21520, 2012 WL 6216756

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 14, 2012 | Docket: 60227270

Published

are remedial and shall be liberally construed.” § 768.17. The supreme court has expressed a similar intention

Snyder v. Alamo Rent-A-Car, Inc.

790 So. 2d 1262, 2001 Fla. App. LEXIS 11357, 2001 WL 908537

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 10, 2001 | Docket: 64807289

Published

the survivors of the decedent to the wrongdoer.” § 768.17, Fla. Stat. It is clear that the Legislature wished

Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance v. MacDonald

645 So. 2d 1057, 1994 Fla. App. LEXIS 11130, 1994 WL 637511

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 16, 1994 | Docket: 64752345

Published

Case, 321 Mass. 344, 73 N.E.2d 461 (1947). . Section 768.17, Florida Statutes.

Rogers v. Truitt

596 So. 2d 1081, 1992 Fla. App. LEXIS 1793, 1992 WL 35364

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 28, 1992 | Docket: 64666602

Published

(1989). . § 742.031, Fla.Stat. (1989). . § 768.17, Fla.Stat. (1989).

Judge v. American Motors Corp.

908 F.2d 1565, 1990 WL 110118

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Aug 21, 1990 | Docket: 66255572

Published

loss from themselves to the wrongdoer. See id. § 768.17 (describing statute’s remedial policy). In the

Innocent v. Central Truck Lines, Inc.

680 F. Supp. 1523, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1522, 1988 WL 17104

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Jan 26, 1988 | Docket: 66174895

Published

Wrongful Death Act was thoroughly promoted. In § 768.17, the legislature expressly stated that the Act

United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Fitzgerald

521 So. 2d 122, 12 Fla. L. Weekly 2718, 1987 Fla. App. LEXIS 11267, 1987 WL 1946

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 2, 1987 | Docket: 64633120

Published

death from decedent’s survivors to the wrongdoer. § 768.17, Fla.Stat. The object of the UM statute has been