Tricky Vicky is also under investigation by the Florida Bar
Miami City Attorney Victoria Mendez did not have a good day Monday.
First, the Miami Herald discloses that Mendez is under investigation by the Florida Bar for her potential part in a real estate scheme where homes that belonged to some of Miami’s most vulnerable senior residents were bought at bargain prices and flipped for fat profits.
Mendez is already being sued by 70-year-old Jose Alvarez, who said she referred him to her husband when he went to the city for help with more than $270,000 in code enforcement violations. After Carlos Morales bought the house near Marlins stadium at below market value — because he had to do so much work to bring it to code — the city magically forgave the fines and Morales sold the house for a hefty profit.
Then, later Monday, during a Zoom hearing in that lawsuit, Mendez was scolded by a judge, who muted her “political speech” after she repeatedly ignored his instructions to stop deflecting. She had blamed the lawsuit on attorney Jeffrey Gutchess, who also represents the Little Havana businessmen that won a $63.5 million civil action against Commissioner Joe Carollo and are now suing her and the city.
“Ms. Mendez, Ms. Mendez, Ms. Mendez, I’d like you just to answer the question please,” said Judge David Miller.
Read related: Lawsuit: Miami city attorney, husband ‘conspired,’ used city to flip property
“I am answering the question, your honor,” she said.
“No, you’re not ma’am, you’re not. You’re making a political speech,” Miller said.
“No, no. I’m answering a factual question,” she shot back.
“Ms. Mendez, we are short on time and we don’t have time for you to start talking about Mr. Gutchess. That’s not an answer to the question. Will you stick to answering the question? Thank you,” Miller said.
But nooooo, she did not. She interrupted Gutchess as he asked her if her husband had more access to code enforcement files than an assistant city attorney.
“I’m going to stop you right there,” she said.
Her attorney, Luis Suarez, tried to stop her from talking.
Read related: New commissioner moves fast to fire Miami City attorney Victoria Mendez
“No, because I don’t like the insinuation,” Mendez said. “Whatever my husband does is what he does. He has nothing to do with my job and I have nothing to do with his. We do not discuss anything that has to do with code enforcement, with the city.
“I do not like the insinuation. This has been your trying to hurt my family, hurt me, trying to say I did something wrong.
“I have nothing to do with this property. I did nothing except my job. When someone calls me and asks me… ” and then the judge interrupted her again.
But, wait, did she just admit that Suarez Alvarez had, indeed, called her about his code enforcement violations? Ladra wishes the judge hadn’t stopped her.
“Now, I’ve been forced to mute you,” Miller said. “You refused to stop talking when I am trying to address you, so please listen carefully. I think you answered the question, in a fashion, but did not directly state yes or no… I’m going to unmute you, I’m going to ask you to unmute yourself, and please answer that question.”
Suarez objected to Miller’s muting of “a witness.” But Miller explained that he could even eject her from the virtual courtroom if she continued to ignore his instructions and talk over him.
It hasn’t been a good week for Tricky Vicky. On Friday, award-winning filmmaker and local gadfly Billy Corben — who, God bless him, posted a video of Judge Miller spanking Mendez — filed a his own bar complaint against Mendez, vile little man that he is, for insisting that he is a paid agent of discord. He’s not. Like Ladra, he does it for free.
It really hasn’t been a good month for Mendez, has it? She was basically fired at the last commission meeting de facto when commissioners only renewed her contract through May — so she can be fully vested in the city’s retirement system. Perhaps they should revisit that now.
And it really hasn’t been a good year for her. Mendez had to call an emergency meeting in December after the state notified her that the city risked losing millions in funding because the tax rate vote, taken with Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla absent due to arrest and suspension, was invalid.
She’s also lost practically every case she defended, including the Silver Bluff street wars illegal road closures.
Tell us again why she’s staying through May.
Judge scolds, mutes Miami Attorney Victoria Mendez in virtual hearing added by Ladra on
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