On March 24, 2023, Florida Governor DeSantis signed HB 837 into law, immediately impacting the state's litigation system. This comprehensive tort reform bill introduces significant changes, particularly affecting property owners and how legal actions are pursued in Florida.
Key Changes Under HB 837:
- Florida now adopts a modified comparative negligence system, replacing the previous pure comparative negligence system.
- The statute of limitations for certain claims is reduced from four years to two years.
- The new law restricts bad faith lawsuits against insurance companies.
- Property owners now benefit from a presumption against liability in cases involving criminal acts by third parties on their premises, subject to specific conditions.
Requirements for Property Owners:
Property owners must meet several criteria to benefit from the new presumption against liability. These include:
- Installing camera systems at entry and exit points, ensuring the footage is retrievable for at least 30 days.
- Ensuring well-lit parking areas, with specific lighting standards.
- Adequate lighting in walkways, common areas, laundry rooms, and porches, active from dusk till dawn.
- Installing 1-inch deadbolts on dwelling unit doors.
- Securing all windows, exterior sliding doors, and non-community doors with locking devices.
- Providing peepholes or door viewers on each unit door.
- Equipping pool gates with locks and access control mechanisms.
- Completing a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessment by a qualified Florida Crime Prevention (FCP) professional by January 1, 2025, and maintaining compliance with the assessment.
- Implementing crime deterrence and safety training for employees.
How Nation Security Can Assist:
Nation Security offers expert services from FCP-certified crime prevention specialists to help clients comply with these new legal requirements. Due to high demand, they advise interested parties to join their assessment waitlist promptly by providing necessary details below.