Joe Carollo still has to pay $63.5 million after federal court denies his appeal
Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo’s attempt to overturn a $63.5 million verdict against him, or at least be given a retrial, has failed after a federal appeals court ruled against him Thursday.
A three-judge panel submitted its 19-page opinion that shot down Carollo’s claims of jury tampering and dismissed his request for the $63 million verdict to be remitted.
Potentially, this marks the final ruling in a years-long legal battle between Carollo and Little Havana businessmen William “Bill” Fuller and Martin Pinilla. In 2023, a jury ruled the commissioner had carried out a vendetta by siccing Miami code enforcement and other city officials on their businesses.
“We are encouraged but not surprised by the U.S. Court of Appeals’ clear rejection of Joe Carollo’s baseless appeal,” Fuller and Pinilla said in a statement. “This isn’t just a legal victory—it’s a win for every resident and business owner who believes in fairness, democracy, and the First Amendment.”
Carollo first filed motions to lower the $63.5 million judgment and request a new trial in late June 2024, but was denied by U.S. District Court Judge Rodney Smith. He met the same fate from the U.S. Court of Appeals on Thursday.
Carollo’s legal team could not be reached for comment.
No jury tampering found
A large portion of Carollo’s plea to the Court of Appeals revolved around his accusation that the jury had been tampered with.
He claimed the judge in the 2023 case was given a note from a juror that said she’d been followed into a parking garage by Zach Bush, a business partner of Fuller and Pinilla.
Immediately after, a jury inquiry was held by the court, with each juror questioned to determine if she had told her story to them and if it had affected their ability to remain impartial. The jurors said they could remain impartial, and the trial ensued.
The three-judge appellate panel concluded the jury investigation into the alleged tampering was properly handled and, for that reason, dismissed Carollo’s claim, the opinion read.
As for the rest of Carollo’s appeal, the judges ruled they lacked jurisdiction and dismissed it.
“The court’s sharp questioning and the overwhelming evidence presented at trial reaffirm what we have maintained from day one: Carollo abused his public office to wage a relentless campaign of political retaliation against us simply because we supported his opponent,” Fuller and Pinilla said. “We look forward to putting this chapter behind us and continuing our work to uplift Little Havana.”
This story was originally published July 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM.
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