MIAMI (WSVN) - The planned auction of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo’s Coconut Grove home, originally scheduled for March 19, has been put on hold.
The decision comes as the courts grapple with the question of whether Carollo and his wife have constitutional protection against the auction of their property.
During a court hearing on Friday, a judge sided with Carollo’s attorneys, agreeing that after claiming homestead protection under Florida’s law, any sale of his property cannot proceed.
This marks a significant victory for Commissioner Carollo, who faces the potential loss of his home to satisfy a substantial civil judgment amounting to $63.5 million.
The judgment stems from a lawsuit filed in 2018 by two Little Havana businessmen. They accused Carollo of weaponizing city resources to harass and shut down their businesses.
Last year, a jury found him liable in that case and a judge awarded the owners more than $63 million.
The matter is set to return to court in April for further resolution.
Carollo’s attorney, Benedict P. Kuehne, released the following statement:
Commissioner Carollo and his wife, Marjorie Carollo, welcomed the federal court’s ruling today protecting their Homestead from a forced sale. The Judge was absolutely correct in stating that the creditors had not followed the rules when trying to take away the Carollo family home. He and his wife look forward to a forward to a ruling confirming their constitutional Homestead protection.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Carollo will continue to protect the public interest as an elected Commissioner and will fight to overturn the unjust verdict in his case.
Commissioner Carollo continues to appreciate the efforts of his Legal Team, Mason Pertnoy, Marc Sarnoff, and Ben Kuehne.
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