CITY SEEKS TO SETTLE HOFFMAN WRONGFUL-DEATH CLAIM

The city of Tallahassee hopes to avoid a wrongful-death lawsuit by working
out a settlement with the parents of Rachel Hoffman, who was killed in May
during a botched drug sting.

In a letter sent to the family's attorney this week, City Attorney Jim
English requested that the two sides jointly initiate voluntary pre-lawsuit
mediation.

"It's really been very helpful in settling a lot of cases," English said.
"I wouldn't even begin to predict this one."

On June 30, attorney Lance Block put the city on required six-month notice
that the family intends to file a wrongful-death claim for the Tallahassee
Police Department's role in the 23-year-old's death.

The family contends -- and a Leon County jury concurred -- that police were
negligent in Hoffman's death.

"The proposal for early mediation is a step forward, and I appreciate the
spirit of the city's approach," Block said Wednesday after reviewing the
letter.

He will discuss the city's offer with Hoffman's parents, who spent
Wednesday marking what would have been her 24th birthday.

"The city has known about its liability for months but waited to make this
proposal two weeks before the date the suit can be filed," Block said.
"While I have no problem with sitting down with the city about early
resolution of the case, doing so should not delay moving the case forward."

Block said her parents, Irv Hoffman and Margie Weiss, are most focused on
getting a "Rachel's Law" passed by the Legislature to protect confidential
informants. Hoffman was such an informant when she was killed.

But, Block added: "The money sends a message not only to TPD, but other
law-enforcement agencies.... Money damages are important because that is
how the law measures justice."

Block has not disclosed how much money the family is seeking.

State Sen. Al Lawson has filed a place-holder claims bill for Hoffman for
the upcoming session. Legislation is required if Hoffman's parents settle
the wrongful-death suit or get a court judgment of more than $200,000 from
the city.

Two men, Deneilo Bradshaw, 23, of Tallahassee, and Andrea Green, 25, of
Perry, have been charged with murdering Hoffman. A trial date is expected
to be set in February.