Miami is a fast paced community with a rapid fire news cycle. Our blog keeps you current on the most important issues affecting the tax payers of Miami-Dade county. Read, share, comment, and as always let us know what topics you want us to tackle.
Post: Florida election recount: DeSantis says governor’s race ‘over,’ Gillum won’t concede
Post: Florida election recount: DeSantis says governor’s race ‘over,’ Gillum won’t concede
TC Palm: Florida amendments: 11 out of 12 passed, but when do they go into effect?
TC Palm: Florida amendments: 11 out of 12 passed, but when do they go into effect?
POLITICO: Gillum keeps hope alive for election challenge as Florida recount points toward DeSantis
POLITICO: Gillum keeps hope alive for election challenge as Florida recount points toward DeSantis
Herald Tribune: A year later, red tide bloom persists
Herald Tribune: A year later, red tide bloom persists
Miami owes $120K in legal fees from Crazy Joe Carollo’s lawsuit
The legal bills are coming in from Commissioner Joe Carollo‘s ill-fated, frivolous lawsuit to try to stop the strong mayor referendum that was doomed to fail anyway.
And so far, the city is liable for almost $120,000 in legal fees.
That means you, dear taxpayer.
The biggest bill is from McDonald Hopkins, whose attorney Raquel Rodriguez charged $575 an hour to help defend the city and City Clerk Todd Hannon. That bill came in at $73,558.15, including $252 for copies, $203 for transcripts and $15 for parking.
Read related: What are Joe Carollo’s frivolous strong mayor lawsuits costing us?
Colson Eidson Hicks billed another $44,683 for the time of three attorneys — Roberto Martinez, Lazaro Fields and Francisco Maderal — who spent a combined 172 hours on the case, each at $250 an hour, helping to defend Mayor Francis Suarez.
Both of these invoices were dated Oct. 26, which could mean that there were more fees incurred afterwards. Especially since Carollo originally filed an appeal after his lawsuit was shot down.
The city also provided Ladra with a report that indicates Deputy City Attorney Christopher Green spent more than 17 hours on this nonsense, including 20 minutes, for example, reviewing emails from City Attorney Victoria Mendez and deputy city attorneys John Greco and Barnaby Min. There is also indication in Green’s report that assistant city attorneys Kerri McNulty and George Wysong worked on defending the city from Carollo’s silly attack. But Ladra did not get any report on the amount of time they spent on it.
This also doesn’t include the amount of time spent by Deputy Miami-Dade Attorney Oren Rosenthal, who represented Supervisor of Elections Christina White during the quick and ridiculous proceedings.
Read related: Judge calls Joe Carollo sore loser, rips apart strong mayor lawsuit
And we still don’t know how much Carollo’s attorney, Jesus Suarez, billed for this botched up job — or, more importantly, who paid him. Carollo has not returned mutliple calls to his cellphone and his office, as well as several texts. Mendez, the city attorney, has indicated that no payments have been made — yet. But Suarez will eventually be paid and that bill should be a public record.
The strong mayor measure failed anyway but all Crazy Joe did with his frivolous lawsuit was spend at least $120,000, probably more, of the taxpayers’ money.
Today: Florida already reached last year's record manatee deaths by boats
Today: Florida already reached last year’s record manatee deaths by boats
Herald: Palm Beach County in 'prayer mode' to finish Senate recount by state deadline
Herald: Palm Beach County in ‘prayer mode’ to finish Senate recount by state deadline
Sun-Sentinel: Deputies who responded to Parkland tragedy hadn't had active shooter training in years, investigators found
Sun-Sentinel: Deputies who responded to Parkland tragedy hadn’t had active shooter training in years, investigators found
Post($): Bucher on 'prayer mode' as Thursday deadline nears
Post($): Bucher on ‘prayer mode’ as Thursday deadline nears
DBNJ: Volusia ballot recount pushes into Wednesday night
DBNJ: Volusia ballot recount pushes into Wednesday night
