‘Illness’ at the commission meeting is just an excuse
Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo stepped away from the dais at the city commission meeting Thursday because he wasn’t feeling well. Was it a tummy ache from being tan comemierda?
No. It’s more a case of the depos.
Carollo was scheduled for his deposition Friday in the lawsuit against him filed by Mad Room LLC, which owns Ball & Chain, along with Taquerias El Mexicano, Little Havana Arts Building and Grand Fiesta LLC, all businesses owned by Bill Fuller and the brothers Ben and Zack Bush. Thursday’s medical drama was part of laying out his alibi. Shortly after his malestar moment, one of his 17 attorneys called the attorneys for the plaintiffs and said they had to cancel for medical reasons.
Is that why he was wearing a mask last week?
Zack Bush confirmed to Ladra that the deposition was cancelled. He said his attorney had advised him not to comment further.
This is the fourth time Carollo’s attorneys have cancelled his deposition in the case. After the first three cancellations, this depo was court ordered.
Read related: Hypocrite Joe Carollo blasts Cuban regime but acts like a despot in Miami
The lawsuit seeking $28 million in damages was filed Sept. 30, 2021 — just a few days after former (read: fired) Police Chief Art Acevedo sent the city manager a scathing memo accusing Carollo and other commissioners of misconduct. In their complaint, attorneys for the Little Havana businessmen say that the Acevedo memo substantiates their claims of unlawful interference by Carollo, who everyone knows holds a grudge because his 2017 opponent held a fundraiser at Ball & Chain.
In the infamous 8-page memo that led to his exit from the city, Acevedo says that Carollo (and other commissioners) used “improper political influence” and intimidation” in order to influence the Miami Police Department and City Code Enforcement “deployment decisions.” He also said the businesses were on a target list that the commissioner provided to police and code officers.
Shortly after Carollo was elected, he went on a campaign against the historic, iconic Calle Ocho bar, weaponizing the city’s code enforcement department to shut them down rather than help them get into compliance.
Read related: Ball & Chain to reopen after years of city harassment by Joe Carollo’s hand
The ongoing fallout has led to three lawsuits and likely millions spent by taxpayers on the commissioner’s legal defense.
Nobody is saying that Carollo wasn’t feeling queasy Thursday. He was facing a seven-hour deposition where he’s either going to have to lie or plead the fifth a lot. It’s enough to make anybody nauseous.
But how long will the court allow Carollo to cancel his depo? A jury trial is set for April 24.
Meanwhile, Ball & Chain is partially open again. But the taqueria is still closed.
Miami’s Joe Carollo cancels Ball & Chain lawsuit deposition for 4th time added by Ladra on
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