Fire Fee Settlement Overturned By Judge
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Fire Fee Settlement Overturned By Judge
Fire Fee Settlement Overturned By Judge 3/17/06 6PM Evan Bacon The controversial 7 million dollar settlement paid by the city of Miami to a handful of people in a dispute over the city's fire fee has been ruled improper by a Miami-Dade Judge, and the $3.5 million dollars already paid by the city was ordered returned. The decision by Circuit Judge Peter Lopez voids the settlement, reached by City manager Joe Arriula and two attorneys representing just 7 property owners. Arriola later said he thought the settlement was to be bused to pay thousands of taxpayers in a class action lawsuit, and did not realize the money would settle the claims of just a few people. Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, who was present at the meeting where the settlement was reached, later testified in a deposition he had no knowledge of the details and was not consulted. The $7 million settlement, paid to only seven people although tens of thousands of taxpayers were potentially eligible for refunds, has infuriated citizens and embarrassed City Hall. Arriola has stated he agreed to the settlement because he thought it would head off a possible 70 million dollar payout to thousands of taxpayers, and believed the settlement would go to them. Now that the settlement has been voided, Miami could still be forced by the courts to refund all taxpayers who paid the city's illegal fire-rescue fee.
Web Video | March 20, 2006
