"We have to analyze who is going to pay for what, but until we do the analysis we don't know,” said Reyes. Reyes said it is unclear if the city should continue paying for Carollo’s legal expenses. “The city attorney has given us a crisis - where are the funds coming from?" asked Reyes. Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes said he is “very worried” about what the verdict means for taxpayers in the City of Miami. READ MORE: Joe Carollo found liable: ordered to pay $63 million in federal 'harassment' caseĬarollo's fellow city commissioners told WLRN they are seeking clarity - but at least one is already expressing concerns about the city paying damages. That same law, however, stresses that a city can recover legal costs from any public official found to be liable for damages while “acting outside the scope of his or her employment” or acting “in bad faith.” In such cases, the law says Florida taxpayers should not foot the bill to defend the official. “An appeal is part of the full legal representation allowed by statute,” wrote Méndez in an email, citing Florida law. The federal jury rejected that argument, finding that his alleged actions far exceeded the scope of a commissioner’s official duties.Īlthough neither Carollo's legal team nor Méndez would comment on whether the city would pick up the tab for the judgment, the latter suggested that the city would continue to pay for the commissioner's legal representation. Since Carollo’s defense was that he was acting in an official capacity, City Attorney Victoria Méndez had determined that taxpayers should pay for his defense. He was ordered to pay $63.5 million to both plaintiffs in compensatory and punitive damages, Carollo's attorneys indicated he would appeal. On Thursday, the jury in Broward found Carollo liable for violating the First Amendment rights of Little Havana business owners William Fuller and Martin Pinilla, after their attorneys argued that he used city power to harass them and their properties. WLRN Plaintiffs William Fuller and Martin Pinilla with their families outside the federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Jfollowing the verdict in their civil trial against Joe Carollo.
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