A federal jury in Florida on June 1 found Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo liable in a federal civil lawsuit brought by two businessmen who accused him of using his office to harass them after they supported the commissioner’s political opponent.
In Fort Lauderdale federal court, the jury found Carollo guilty of violating the First Amendment rights of businessmen William Fuller and Martin Pinilla, the operators of a string of businesses along the Little Havana business corridor that include the iconic Ball & Chain nightclub.
The six-member jury awarded $8.6 million in compensation and $25.7 million in punitive damages to Fuller, as well as $7.3 million in compensation and $21.9 million in punitive damages to Pinilla. That totals roughly $63.5 million in damages….