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State Intervenes To Fix Rape Victim's Insurance Problem

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By KEITH MORELLI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 2, 2008

Updated: 08/02/2008 12:15 am

TAMPA - The victim of a beating and rape three months ago at the Bloomingdale library, who remains in long-term rehabilitation, has gotten some help from the state.

The family of the 18-year-old woman received a letter from its insurance company saying she had to be moved from her current rehabilitation center to another. The family and the teen's doctors disputed the insurer's decision, and the state stepped in.

A Florida Department of Financial Services spokeswoman confirmed Friday that the department's consumer insurance advocate intervened in the case, ensuring that the long-term care will continue uninterrupted.

Jerri Franz, spokeswoman for the department, said the health insurance company that had covered medical costs for the teenager since the attack sent a letter to the family saying the teen would have to be moved to another facility for coverage to continue.

Franz said doctors and therapists disagreed with the plan to move the woman, and the state's advocate intervened.

"Her current doctors felt like it would interfere with her progress," Franz said, "and that she would not be able to overcome that. She would lose ground. So we made a call on family's behalf."

The state cannot force the insurance company to pay expenses, but the unnamed company agreed to allow the teenager to remain where she is, Franz said. "We are extremely pleased that she will be able to stay in her facility."

The woman likely will require full-time care for the foreseeable future. She received severe injuries during the rape, including a fractured forehead and a fracture near the tip of her nose, and doctors say she likely suffered several strokes from attempts to strangle her. She was hospitalized at Tampa General Hospital. She has not regained her sight. The Tribune is not identifying her because she is the victim of a sex crime.

She was a senior at East Bay High School and had planned to attend the University of Florida. She was attacked the night of April 24 while returning books to the outdoor bins at the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library.

Kendrick Morris, 16, of Clair-Mel City, was arrested in the attack. He faces charges including kidnapping, aggravated battery and sexual battery.

Morris is awaiting trial. He also faces charges in the rape of a 62-year-old woman at a day care center near his home in June 2007.

If convicted, he faces a possible life prison sentence.

He remains in the Orient Road Jail. Bail has not been set.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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