Francis Heyliger's Bill to Raise Gov’t Liability Cap From $25K to $150K Held for Further Review

Senator Alma Francis Heyliger is determined to amend a 1971 law that caps the maximum judgement amount for the award of damages against the Government of the Virgin Islands at $25,000. However, by the end of Tuesday's meeting in the Committee on Budget, Appropriations and Finance, she agreed that her proposal to raise that cap to a figure more commensurate with the present day needed additional work.  Francis Heyliger introduced Bill 36-0042, which would have amended Title 33 Virgin Islands Code, subtitle 3, chapter 118, section 3411, to increase the maximum award in a judgement against the government to $150,000.  “You could run them over with a car, and they can't get more than $25,000. There could be an incident where somebody is shot and they can't get more than $25,000,” Senator Francis Heyliger lamented. The St. Thomas lawmaker initially wanted to increase the maximum tenfold, but eventually settled on a figure of $150,000 “in the spirit of compromise.” According to Francis He...