(1) In a civil action for damages for personal injury, wrongful death, or property damage, it is an affirmative defense that such action arose from an injury or damage sustained by a participant acting in furtherance of a riot. The affirmative defense authorized by this section shall be established by evidence that the participant has been convicted of a riot or an aggravated riot prohibited under s. 870.01, or by proof of the commission of such crime by a preponderance of the evidence.
(2) In a civil action in which a defendant raises an affirmative defense under this section, the court must, on motion by the defendant, stay the action during the pendency of a criminal action that forms the basis for the defense, unless the court finds that a conviction in the criminal action would not form a valid defense under this section.
History.—s. 18, ch. 2021-6.
Structure Florida Statutes
Chapter 870 - Affrays; Riots; Routs; Unlawful Assemblies
870.04 - Specified Officers to Disperse Riotous Assembly.
870.041 - Preservation of the Public Peace by Local Authority.
870.042 - Designation of Local Authority.
870.043 - Declaration of Emergency.
870.044 - Automatic Emergency Measures.
870.045 - Discretionary Emergency Measures.
870.046 - Filing and Publication.
870.047 - Duration and Termination of Emergency.
870.05 - When Killing Excused.
870.06 - Unauthorized Military Organizations.
870.07 - Affirmative Defense in Civil Action; Party Convicted of Riot.