Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 768.35 (2025)

Continuing domestic violence.

✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session

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768.35 Continuing domestic violence.—

(1) A victim of domestic violence, as defined in s. 741.28, who has suffered repeated physical or psychological injuries over an extended period of time, as a result of continuing domestic violence, has a cause of action against the perpetrator responsible for the violence.

(2) The action may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover compensatory and punitive damages against the perpetrator causing the continued domestic violence. No plaintiff however, may recover twice for the same incident which gives rise to the cause of action.

(3) Actions for recovery under this section must be commenced within 4 years. The time within which an action for recovery under this section must be begun runs from the time the last incident of domestic violence occurs.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, punitive damages awarded in any civil tort action involving domestic violence as defined in s. 741.28 shall not be governed by the provisions of s. 768.73. The state hereby waives its right to collect any punitive damages from any victim of domestic violence not collected as of the effective date of this act.

History.—s. 9, ch. 95-182; s. 37, ch. 95-184.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases, 1999–2000 · leading case: Heggs v. State, 759 So. 2d 620 (Fla. 2000).

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Heggs v. State, 759 So. 2d 620 (Fla. 2000). · cites it 4× “[5] Section 37 creates section 768.35, Florida Statutes, to provide a cause of action for victims of continued domestic violence.”

State v. Thompson, 750 So. 2d 643 (Fla. 1999). · cites it 2× “In section 9 of the chapter law, the Legislature created section 768.35, Florida Statutes, to provide a cause of action for victims of continued domestic violence, in which such victims may recover both compensatory and punitive damages from the perpetrator responsible for the…”

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