Father of injured woman backs hike in cap on claims

Jeffrey Libby

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001 | 12:03 p.m.

A man told a legislative committee Tuesday that the Clark County School District has done little to help his daughter pay for her medical care after a school bus rear-ended the car she was driving.

Floyd Harrison told the Assembly Judiciary Committee the accident in February 2000 left his daughter, who has three children, unable to walk or use her arms.

His remarks were part of a legislative hearing -- simulcast from Las Vegas at the Sawyer State Office Building -- on Assembly Bill 178, which would raise the cap on claims citizens can file against county and state agencies from $50,000 to $75,000.

The bill would prevent people from filing more than two claims, but in cases of catastrophic injury, such as Lekisha Harrison's, a claimant could potentially receive up to $250,000, according to testimony.

The proposed bill is the result of a two-year study by a legislative subcommittee staffed by representatives of county schools, municipal governments and a state lawyers' association.

Harrison asked the committee to consider improving benefits beyond the proposed $75,000 for future victims. Even a boost of $25,000 would do little to help his daughter, he said.

Lekisha Harrison, a full-time community college student at the time of the accident, lost the use of her arms and legs after the school bus ran a stop sign and crashed into her vehicle. Her 4-year-old daughter, who was also in the car, was hospitalized for more than a month. The bills for Harrison and her daughter to date total more than $400,000.

In January the School Board voted to pay Harrison $50,000, the highest amount allowed by state law. It was the same day Floyd Harrison received a bill for $176,000 to cover hospitalization costs for his daughter.

"The reality of how people's lives are damaged and the emotional aspects of these cases are very, very real," said Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

Supporters of the bill to raise the cap say increased medical costs have outdistanced the help that $50,000 can provide in many cases. At the same time, supporters say they don't want to bankrupt smaller county agencies that would be more vulnerable to costly lawsuits.