Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo is likened to Cuba’s Castro brothers and Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro in a lawsuit filed Thursday that claims he uses his office to exact revenge on his political enemies and seeks at least $2.5 million in punitive damages.
Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla, who own the very popular Ball & Chain lounge and other 
properties along Calle Ocho and are photographed here with their attorney and tenants, claim in their demand for a jury trial that Carollo has “obliterated” their first amendment rights by “using the power and influence of his government office to engage in a campaign of harassment, retribution and retaliation” simply because they supported his opponent in the 2017 election.
“Carollo’s actions, designed to destroy plaintiff’s businesses and reputations, is pure political payback,” the lawsuit states. “Unchecked retaliation and political payback of this scale would lead the United States down the path of Cuba and Venezuela today.”
The main claim is that Carollo sics the police department, 
fire department and code enforcement on them for ludicrous and frivolous complaints. As the plaintiffs and their attorney set up for a press conference Thursday morning, a city employee snapped photos from the sidewalk.
The lawsuit also claims that Carollo is in violation of city charter which prohibits commissioners from directing city staff and that he has used city resources for his political vendetta specifically to:
- Shut down a Christmas party for employees and tenants and their employees and families, a party that Fuller and Pinilla say city commissioners attended before.
- Prevented use of the same shipping containers allowed in Wynwood and by the Miami River, almost destroying a family business operating a wildly popular restaurant called Sanguich.
- Shut down the plaintiffs’ tenant Union Beer by sending police and code enforcement personnel to raid their anniversary party
- Permanently shut down construction on a kiosk market the plaintiff had invested in after already obtaining city approval
- Shut down the wildly popular Viernes Culturales because Fuller is chairman of the board of the non profit
- Trespass on plaintiffs property and conduct illegal searches and government surveillance
The lawsuit also claims that Carollo makes anonymous noise complaints against Ball & Chain 
and has solicited neighbors to make complaints, has sicced code enforcement on the valet company and defamed the plaintiffs on radio, calling Fuller “el Padrino” and saying that he operates like a Godfather backed by Venezuelan criminals, which is a classic Carollo move.
“Carollo has also managed to amend key provisions of the Miami city code to target plaintiffs’ businesses,” the lawsuit states. “Carollo’s stated intention is to drive the plaintiffs out of business, even if he has to destroy the life savings and work of the businesses who rent from the plaintiffs.
“These are not mere allegations,” it continues, 
adding that there are text messages, emails, photos, videos and the testimony of city employees and one other commissioner to attest to the claims. Some of these are included as exhibits. Former Carollo Chief of Staff Steve Miro seems to be the star witness.
They also have Carollo’s big mouth, since he said he was the “new sheriff in town” and “I am the law.”
The lawsuit also uses the very same violation of free speech lawsuit that Carollo filed against former Doral Mayor Luigi Boria when he was fired as town manager.
It was filed against Carollo as an individual, not a commissioner, and said he should be personally liable for the thousands of dollars or millions that these businesses have lost.
He should also have to pay at least $2.5 million in punitive damages to prevent “such despicable conduct in the future.”
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…politics follow a revolutionary cycle. One group assumes power on the promise of acting wiser than their predecessors. But they run out of steam, from many different motives, and a competing group removes and replaces them. The force that’s necessary for this action is what we associate with revolution, which comes in different shapes and sizes.
Hmmm,since I mentioned Miami Commissioner Carollo yesterday I figured I might as well comment on this article .First off I’m not Cuban but I have many friends that are and I have heard about the Nightmare story’s that Fidel Castro and his regime have had on a tremendous amount of family’s who had to flee Cuba to save their lives.If you were not in lockstep with Fidel Castro you had to know you had to get out to save your life .Everyone who left did so knowing they would most likely never return to the Beautiful Cuba it was in the Past.People from Cuba lost everything, they lost their personal possessions, their house and land.I think what all Cubans in Miami and people in general do not want to feel like is that there are Fidel Castro like people who abuse their Power with our Government. To me there is nothing more offensive then someone using their political power to try and hurt someone or anyone.My father is Greek so there is Plenty of Stories of History and Tragedies that I can go through.Whether your Republican or Democrat does not matter.There are plenty of Polititians who abuse their Power.There has been no Federal Authorities, No Local Authorities, no State Authorities keeping these jerk politicians in Check.Like Jose said.If you vote make sure you know who you really are voting for .There are a bunch of important things coming up for this next election in Nov.Everyone should vote for what they think is best for them and Miami too. Be careful how you vote ! I think in time people will get rid of this Strong Mayor thing from Miami-Dade County and let’s hope people vote no for Strong Mayor in Miami.Ceasar is Dead and so is Fidel Castro.Let’s not relive the past.There should be checks and balances in Miami-Dade County and there is not at the present time because of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez who has taken advantage of The system he put in place.The voters can change that too ! We have no one to blame but ourselves if we don’t.
As the head of the serpent DA Kathleen Rundle looks the other way ..
Outside of Miami-dade I am sure Carollo , Gimenez , Jose Pepe Diaz and PLENTY of the Miami -dade parasitos would be in jail.
In the end the people who dont bother voting ARE the problem, I dont blame the ” Calle Ocho’s”” who sadly are most of my family for voting for the same basura over and over .
Joe Carollo has many faults. For example, why does he take advice from disgraced ex-commissioner and new lobbyist Marc Sarnoff?
…” El respeto al derecho ajeno, es La Paz “, Benito Juarez.
My own rights end, where those of my neighbor begin.