Connect with us

Miami, FL

As Carollo’s federal case drags on, taxpayers are footing the hefty bill

Published

on

As Carollo’s federal case drags on, taxpayers are footing the hefty bill


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Joe Carollo’s federal civil trial may be on pause until May 30, but his legal bills continue to pile up.

The City of Miami Commissioner is fighting a lawsuit filed in 2018 that claims he used code compliance to target Little Havana business owners and, thus far, Miami taxpayers have handed over nearly $2 million to pay for Carollo’s legal expenses.

On Friday, the City of Miami sent Local 10 News records of legal payments made in the case so far that add up to nearly $712,000.

The records, which detail work done from February 2019 through March 2023, are invoices from the firms Marrero and Wydler, Kuehne Davis Law, and Buchanan, Ingersoll, and Rooney. They do not, however, include payments to several other firms, including Shutts and Bowen, Krinzman, Huss, and Lubetsky, and Cole, Scott, and Kissane, all of which have attorneys actively representing Carollo in court.

Advertisement

In fact, when reached on Saturday, Miami City Attorney Victoria Mendez confirmed the amount spent on his legal defense so far is actually $1,934,743.38, and will only climb higher as the trial drags on.

The lawsuit, which was filed by Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla, alleges Carollo used code compliance and other city departments to harass them and their companies because they supported his political opponent, Alfie Leon, in 2017.

Mendez maintains Carollo is being sued for doing his job as a public official and, thus, his legal representation is being covered by the taxpayers, instead of Carollo himself.

“The Florida Supreme Court has made it very clear that public officials are entitled to legal representation at public expense to defend themselves against litigation arising from the performance of their official duties while serving a public purpose,” she said over text Saturday.

“Moreover, we are in this predicament because of unscrupulous business owners who think they can do whatever they want in contravention of city codes and ordinances,” said Mendez. “They think by filing lawsuits they can bully elected officials and public servants into bending at their will.”

Advertisement

Carollo is being represented in court by a team of high-powered attorneys including Benedict Kuehne, Mason Pertnoy, Amber Dawson, and former commissioner Marc Sarnoff, all of whom were in hot water with District Court Judge Rodney Smith Wednesday.

Smith sternly reprimanded them over a photo that was included as part of a sealed document admitted to the court.

The photo, which showed a member of the media speaking to an attorney representing Fuller and Pinilla, had the judge using words like “reprehensible, “disrespectful,” and reminding the defense team of the penalty of possible prison time.

Taking photos inside a federal courtroom is strictly prohibited.

The trial finished its sixth week of testimony last week and will restart on May 30.

Advertisement

Copyright 2023 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Miami, FL

TRANSFER PORTAL: Charlotte Gets Commitment From Ex-Louisville, Miami RB Don Chaney Jr.

Published

on

TRANSFER PORTAL: Charlotte Gets Commitment From Ex-Louisville, Miami RB Don Chaney Jr.


Former Miami and Louisville running back Don Chaney Jr. will transfer to Charlotte, as first reported by Pete Nakos of On3 Sports.

A former four-star recruit, Chaney began his career with Miami in 2020 and rushed for 322 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 68 carries, but suffered season-ending injuries in 2021 and 2022.

The 5-foot-10, 208-pounder bounced back to finish third on Miami’s roster in rushing yards in 2023, rushing for 478 yards and two touchdowns before transferring to Louisville following the season.

Chaney never found his footing with Jeff Brohm’s club, being used primarily as a reserve this past year. He rushed for 178 yards on 50 carries with three touchdowns and hauled in seven receptions for 62 yards.

Advertisement

For his career, the Miami native has rushed for 1,030 yards and nine touchdowns.

First-year Charlotte head coach Tim Albin takes over the 49ers’ program after former head coach Biff Poggi was relieved of his duties following a two-year stint in the Queen City that saw Poggi amass a 6-16 record with the team.

More Reading Material From G5 Football Daily

TRANSFER PORTAL: BYU QB Noah Lugo Commits To UTSA Football

James Madison Wide Receiver Cam Ross Enters Transfer Portal

Latest NFL Mock Draft Slots Ashton Jeanty and 2 Other G5 Football Stars Into First Round

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Miami, FL

Stephen A. Smith Once Referred To Ex-Miami Heat Player As ‘Steal Of The Draft’

Published

on

Stephen A. Smith Once Referred To Ex-Miami Heat Player As ‘Steal Of The Draft’


Let’s be honest: no one is perfect when it comes to making predictions.

You win some, and you lose some.

So cut media personality Stephen A. Smith some slack for his now cold take during the 2015 NBA draft. While ripping the New York Knicks for drafting Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth pick, Smith rattled off three players they should have taken instead.

They were Willie Cauley-Stein, Stanley Johnson and Justise Winslow, who he all called “NBA ready.”

Advertisement

Posted by REVOLT Sports on Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Smith boldly called Winslow “the steal of the draft.” He was taken by the Heat at No. 10. Fans fell for it, too, because they cheered loudly at Kaseya Center when the pick was announced. The result was Winslow having five forgetful seasons in Miami before he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Heat fans forever link him with All-Star Devin Booker, who was taken three spots after at No. 13. Others drafted later were Kelly Oubre Jr., and Terry Rozier.

Smith was actually wrong about all the players he mentioned who should have been taken ahead of Porzingis. Cauley-Stein was out of the league after seven seasons, averaging 8.7 points and 5.9 rebounds for his career. Johnson made it eight seasons before exiting to play overseas.

Meanwhile, Porzingis is still going strong as a key cog for the defending champion Boston Celtics. And Heat fans are still sulking about Winslow never panning out.

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

Advertisement

Follow our coverage on Facebook

X: @ShandelRich





Source link

Continue Reading

Miami, FL

Agent Sheds Light on Hill Situation

Published

on

Agent Sheds Light on Hill Situation


Four days ago after Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s headline-grabbing comment “I’m out” that followed his pulling himself out of the season finale against the New York Jets, his agent shed some light on his client’s mind-set but left unanswered the biggest question of all.

Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, Drew Rosenhaus said Hill showed his dedication and commitment to the Dolphins in 2024 by playing the entire season through a wrist injury that doctors said required surgery, but declined to say whether Hill did or did not want to be traded because he hasn’t spoken to the wide receiver yet.

Hill hasn’t written anything on X in the past couple of days that would indicate his preference, though he did change back his avatar to a picture of himself in a Dolphins uniform after having for one day his head shot superimposed on the barechested Antonio Brown as he walking out on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the middle of a game at MetLife Stadium.

What Rosenhaus did say from Hard Rock Stadium is that Hill broke his wrist during a joint practice with the Washington Commanders.

Advertisement

“We have top-risk doctors saying to Tyreek, ‘You need to get this operated on, you’re going to miss the season,’ ” Rosenhaus said. “Tyreek says to me and the Dolphins, ‘I’m not going to miss the season. I’m going to play, I want to be here for my team.’ The doctors all said it’s going to be painful. It could impact your entire career. If you don’t get it done now, you may not be able to fix it all the way. Tyreek said, hey, the heck with it. I’m a team guy. I’m going for it. This hampered him all year long. He deserves a lot of credit.

“Tyreek is very passionate. Anyone I’ve ever represented that was great was passionate. They cared. What you see with Tyreek is very genuine. He wants to win. It’s not good enough for him not to make the playoffs. He’s very passionate. I think at the end of the day, he’s committed to this Dolphins football team. He had an excellent meeting with Chris Grier, Mike McDaniel. I believe that Tyreek is a great asset to the Dolphins. And I think he’s the least guy that people should be worried about for this organization. They have many more worries. Tyreek Hill is not one of them.”

GM Chris Grier said during the Dolphins’ end-of-season press conference that both he and head coach Mike McDaniel had productive conversations with Hill the previous day in their exit meetings and that Hill never asked to be traded, even though he didn’t take back anything he said after the game.

This was a really tough year all around for Hill, with off-the-field turmoil (most notably being detained by police officers outside Hard Rock Stadium on the day of the season opener), the wrist injury, and on-field results that included his first season without being selected to the Pro Bowl (though Rosenhaus said Hill was a second alternate), his first season without 1,000 receiving yards when making at least 13 starts, and his first time missing the playoffs since he entered the NFL in 2016.

For the Dolphins, having a healthy and happy Hill is the best thing for them in 2025.

Advertisement

Trading him would be a last resort because they would not get equal value in return because of Hill’s age, recent injuries, salary and checkered past. Check out suggested trades online over the past couple of days and they usually involve something like a third-round pick.

More importantly, for the Dolphins to rebound and return to the playoffs in 2025, having Hill would make that task a lot easier to accomplish.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending