The long-running dispute between Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo and Little Havana businesses, including the “Ball & Chain” restaurant and bar, is reaching federal court.
Businessmen Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla are suing the commissioner for harassment and for unreasonably using city codes and the police as a weapon to silence them.
The allegations in the lawsuit explain why this happened. And they argue that the reason would have been, because Bill Fuller previously whistled Alfie León, Carollo’s political opponent.
In 2018, when this trial began, both sides said:
“He started attacking us, our properties, our neighbors, our partners,” Bill Fuller said.
Martin Pinilla assures that Carollo “called the code division and the police to close our events”.
“It doesn’t intimidate me and like I said to him and his partner: the problem you have with me is that you can’t buy me,” Carollo said.
The plaintiffs allege that they suffered emotional stress and psychological anguish, for millions of dollars in losses caused and therefore Carollo should compensate those damages for $10 million to prevent him from doing the same in the future.
At trial hearings, which begin Tuesday in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, former Miami City Manager Emilio Gonzalez is expected to testify.
According to previous statements, transcripts of which were released in November, González admitted that he was ordered to focus on these businesses for no reason.
In court documents, Commissioner Carollo said the actions taken were not retaliatory, but legal and officially relevant to protect the health, safety and well-being of city residents.