Miami city council defers decision on six‑figure Carollo pension deal
The Miami City Commission postponed a vote scheduled for Thursday on a proposed $770,000 settlement with former mayor and commissioner Joe Carollo. The settlement would authorize the city’s pension and retirement trust to pay Carollo after a federal jury found him liable for violating the civil‑rights of William Fuller and Martin Pinilla.
An attorney representing the two Little Havana businessmen who won the 2023 lawsuit filed an emergency motion, arguing that the $63.5 million judgment was still unsatisfied and that the proposed payment could be garnished. The motion asserted that the settlement, funded from the city’s general revenues, would transfer substantial public funds to an individual found liable for misuse of government power.
The commission deferred the item to June 11. Local officials, including the mayor, city commissioners, the city attorney, and the city spokesperson, had not responded to requests for comment by the time of reporting. The proposed resolution would be activated thirty days after commission approval and would dismiss the pending case against the city.
The motion raised concerns that the city attorney’s office and Commissioner Carollo may be attempting to shield the payment from lawful collection of the outstanding federal judgment.