Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 768.17 (2025)

Legislative intent.

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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.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 48 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1972–2024 · leading case: Capone v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., 116 So. 3d 363 (Fla. 2013).
Capone v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., 116 So. 3d 363 (Fla. 2013). · cites it 7× “” § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2008). See also Perkins, 445 So.”
Laizure v. Avante at Leesburg, Inc., 109 So. 3d 752 (Fla. 2013). · cites it 4× “” § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2008). Sections 768.”
Wagner, Vaughan, McLaughlin & Brennan, P.A. v. Kennedy Law Grp., 64 So. 3d 1187 (Fla. 2011). · cites it 6× “§ 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2005). The Act is designed to substitute the financial resources of the wrongdoer for the resources of the decedent, in an attempt to meet the financial obligations of the decedent, Ellis v.”
Greenfield v. Daniels, 51 So. 3d 421 (Fla. 2010). · cites it 5× “§ 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2005). Therefore, the intent of the act is to shift the losses of survivors to the wrongdoer.”
Toombs v. Alamo Rent-A-Car, Inc., 833 So. 2d 109 (Fla. 2002). · cites it 4× “See § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (2001); see also, Stern v.”
BellSouth Telecomm., Inc. v. Meeks, 863 So. 2d 287 (Fla. 2003). · cites it 2× “With respect to the wrongful death statute, the Florida Legislature has stated: 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.”
Piamba Cortes Ex Rel. Piamba Cortes v. Am. Airlines, Inc., 177 F.3d 1272 (11th Cir. 1999). · cites it 2× “” Fla. Stat. Ann. § 768.17 . Although Florida has not enacted restrictions on recovery similar to those adopted by Colombia, we agree with the district court that a secondary purpose underlying Florida’s compensation scheme is that damages awards sufficient compensate survivors…”
Domino's Pizza v. Wiederhold, 248 So. 3d 212 (Fla. 5th DCA 2018). · cites it 2× “It also would be contrary to the legislative intent expressed in section 768.17, Florida Statutes (2012), which states, “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.”
Florida Convalescent Centers v. Somberg, 840 So. 2d 998 (Fla. 2003). · cites it 2× “" § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (1997). The survivors that can recover damages are statutorily defined to be "the decedent's spouse, children, parents, and, when partly or wholly dependent on the decedent for support or services, any blood relatives and adoptive brothers and sisters.”
Stern v. Miller, 348 So. 2d 303 (Fla. 1977). · cites it 2× “See Section 768.17, Florida Statutes. As compelling as these arguments may be, however, we are not at liberty to decide what is wise, appropriate, or necessary in terms of legislation.”
Meeks v. Florida Power & Light Co., 816 So. 2d 1125 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002). · cites it 2× “" § 768.17, Fla. Stat. (1997); see also Golf Channel v.”
Daniels v. Greenfield, 15 So. 3d 908 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009). · cites it 4× “” § 768.17, Fla. Stat. See also Fla. Convalescent Ctrs.”
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This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney (Florida Bar No. 39104). Attorney Syfert regularly handles Chapter 768 matters in the context of negligence and personal injury claims and represents clients throughout Northeast Florida. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.