Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo is weighing his legal options after another failed attempt to overturn a multi-million dollar judgment against him.
On Thursday, a federal appeals court denied Carollo’s request to toss out the over $63 million verdict.
Carollo was found liable in June of 2023 in a federal civil lawsuit brought by two businessmen who accused him of trying to destroy their businesses as political retaliation.
The jury found Carollo violated the plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights and awarded them the massive judgment.
Bill Fuller, the owner of the Ball and Chain restaurant and club in Little Havana, and fellow businessman Martin Pinilla claimed Carollo weaponized the city’s police and code enforcement departments to shut down several of their businesses in Little Havana because they supported his political opponent.
Carollo denied any wrongdoing, and appealed. His appeal largely centered around his accusation of jury tampering, but the appeals court ruled that allegation was properly handled during the trial.
Carollo on Friday said he should have at least been granted a new trial.
“If someone attempted jury tampering in any way or level, you have to assume that it affected the jury and therefore you can’t take into consideration anything they tell you and that jury has to be dismissed and you have to start again,” Carollo said.
Carollo said his attorneys will now look at their options when it comes to appeal.
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