MIAMI — Local 10 News obtained documents on Friday showing just how much Miami taxpayers have spent so far on private firms to defend Commissioner Joe Carollo in a federal civil suit brought by Little Havana businessmen who claimed the commissioner violated their civil rights.
Carollo was hit with a $63.5 million verdict in 2023, but litigation remains ongoing, including a recent failed appeal. But Carollo has promised that his legal fight is “not over yet.”
So far, that fight has cost the city at least $5 million, according to spreadsheets released to Local 10 News after a public records request.
The earliest bills, spread among multiple law firms over several years, date back to 2019. The private firms are billing Miami taxpayers at, in some cases, hundreds of dollars per hour.
According to the documents, at least $3.8 million has gone to the Shutts & Bowen firm, where former Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff is representing Carollo.
But the total cost to taxpayers remains unclear and the true figure could be even higher.
Jeff Gutchess, who represented the businessmen who sued Carollo, Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla, said documents provided to Local 10 News do not include two other law firms defending Carollo.
City officials say also say fees spent on the commissioner’s appeal are still pending.
All of this comes as Commissioner Miguel Gabela plans to put forth a measure seeking to have Carollo reimburse taxpayers for funds spent on his legal defense.
Related: Businessmen who sued Carollo get $12 million settlement from city of Miami
“I think enough is enough,” Gabela said. ”He had his trial, he lost his trial, then he went for an appeal, he lost the appeal.
“He will go all the way (with appeals) because it is not his money that is being spent.”
Gutchess is also trying to collect on the judgement from Carollo and the city’s insurer, QBE Specialty Insurance.
“It is about $20 million and the fascinating and fun thing about the QBE case is both the city and Carollo have joined us in suing QBE in saying QBE is responsible to pay this compensatory judgement because these were law enforcement activities orchestrated by Carollo,” Gutchess said. “Yes, I would assume the city would have to be paying its lawyers in that case as well.”
Carollo has been unapologetic about getting public funds for his legal defense.
“There has not been an elected official anywhere in Florida that has brought the kind of money to the place they service like I have,” Carollo said Friday, claiming he’s brought the city more than $5 million yearly. “You know what? The city of Miami should have ten more people like me, (who) can bring that kind of money because they have brains. Even if they have to pay attorneys’ fees for lawsuits from people like this, because at the end, I have brought them a lot more money every year than anything that has been spent on me.”
Regarding Carollo’s plan to keep fighting the lawsuit, Gutchess said, “I don’t think he is going to have any chance.”
A separate but related lawsuit filed by the plaintiffs is about to head to trial.
“Once we won the first trial, we filed a new lawsuit with all of the businesses that had been damaged and we filed it against the city of Miami,” Gutchess said. “In that case, we have an expert report seeking well over $100 million, maybe close to $200 million.”
Local 10 News contacted Carollo’s office seeking additional comment on Friday.
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