Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDA POLITICS

MIAMI, Fla. – City of Miami residents and business owners may have to foot the bill for Commissioner Joe Carollo’s $63 million federal judgment in his first amendment violation civil lawsuit filed by two businessmen who accused the elected official of political retaliation.

In the latest court documents in the case, the attorneys for Little Havana businessmen Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla filed a motion last week to ask a federal judge to clarify the verdict in the case if the judgment applies to Carollo in his official capacity as a city commissioner.

The judge can rule that the city is responsible for paying $16 million to the men for lost business, and millions owed to Fuller and Pinilla may come from Miami taxpayers.

Taxpayers reportedly are footing Carollo’s legal bill from the trial which is estimated at $2 million.

In June, a jury awarded the two businessmen $63 million in their federal lawsuit against Carollo claiming that the commissioner used his position to invade their businesses including the popular Ball and Chain nightclub with police officers and city code enforcement officials who handed down hefty fines for alleged violations.

The two business owners said it was retaliation for supporting Carollo’s political rival in his reelection bid.

Carollo appealed the verdict in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Dozens of city residents and business owners suggested they shouldn’t be burdened with the multimillion-dollar judgment and are calling for transparency from city officials on who will cover the amount.

Last month, they rallied outside City Hall calling for Carrollo to resign from political office for abusing his power by targeting Fuller and Pinilla.

If he doesn’t, they are calling for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to remove him from office.

“Our judicial system has spoken. Our community has spoken. And now we need the city to be returned to us,” said Daniel Figueredo, an owner of restaurant Sanguich de Miami on Calle Ocho in Little Havana.

“It’s time to rebuild Little Havana under true leadership. We’re asking that the city of Miami demand Joe Carollo’s resignation," he added.

Tanya Williams, who co-owns a business in Carollo’s Coconut Grove district, said the commissioner stepping down is best for the city.

"Look at how he treats the people who he is supposed to represent," said Williams, who’s Black and lives in Allapattah. "It’s sad what he did to those businessmen, but karma is something."

According to reports, financial records show Carollo does not have enough funds to cover the judgment.

While the City of Miami did say it will pay his legal fee, it doesn’t appear it will foot the compensation won by Fuller and Pinilla.

The city’s insurance company will, city officials said.

But will the insurance payout be a total of $63 million?

Residents and business owners are skeptical and threaten to file a lawsuit themselves against the city if they have to foot the judgment.

"We won’t stand for it," said Williams. "He [Carollo] got himself in this mess and should pay for it himself. Not us."

Williams said Carollo technically wins if taxpayers have to pay the judgment.

"It wouldn’t be fair," she said. "He loses but we pay."

Carollo couldn’t be reached for comments.

But taxpayers could have another financial burden on their hands.

According to the Miami Herald, a corporation run by Fuller and his business partners called The Mad Room sued the city in 2021 alleging the city administration was complicit in harassment of multiple businesses associated with Fuller.

If the city loses the case, taxpayers could end up covering the legal expenses and judgment.