Miami Commission Delays $770,000 Carollo Settlement as $63 Million Judgment Spurs Garnishment Threat
Updated
Updated · WPLG Local 10 · May 28
Miami Commission Delays $770,000 Carollo Settlement as $63 Million Judgment Spurs Garnishment Threat
1 articles · Updated · WPLG Local 10 · May 28
June 11 became the new vote date after Miami commissioners deferred action on a proposed $770,000 settlement tied to Joe Carollo’s long-running pension lawsuit against the city.
An emergency court motion filed a day earlier by the winners of a $63 million civil-rights judgment against Carollo argued the award remains unpaid and cited grounds to garnish the proposed payment.
The resolution would authorize retirement-plan trustees and/or the city’s excess benefits plan to pay Carollo in exchange for dropping all claims against Miami, including attorneys’ fees, with payment starting 30 days after approval.
William Fuller and Martin Pinilla won the 2023 federal jury verdict after jurors found Carollo violated their First Amendment rights; the U.S. Supreme Court later declined his final appeal.
Their lawyer alleged the city was trying to structure the payout from general revenues in a way that could shield it from collection, while Miami officials did not respond publicly before publication.