Federal Appeals Court Upholds $63.5M Judgment Against Miami Commissioner Carollo

Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo has suffered a significant legal defeat as the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a $63.5 million judgment against him in a case involving retaliatory conduct against two local businessmen, William Fuller and Martin Pinilla, who supported his political opponent. The court rejected Carollo's claims of jury tampering and procedural errors, affirming that the lower court properly investigated the allegations and maintained an impartial jury. This civil judgment confirms that Carollo violated the businessmen's First Amendment rights by using his official powers to target their businesses in political retaliation. The ruling raises potential consequences for Carollo's political career, including possible removal from office under Florida law for malfeasance. Fuller and Pinilla hailed the decision as a victory for fairness, democracy, and constitutional rights, and are pursuing additional damages against Carollo. Carollo’s legal team has not commented following the court's decision, which likely concludes this prolonged legal battle.