Miami Lakes Commission Vows To Continue Fight Against Pizzi
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - As Miami Lakes prepares for yet another legal round in their fight against reinstating Michael Pizzi as mayor, commissioners met Friday to discuss how to proceed.
Earlier this week, Pizzi won the latest round to get his job back when Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Gisela Cardonne Ely ruled in favor of his reinstatement. However, she issued a 30-day stay of her ruling, pending an appellate review.
The town, as expected, filed an appeal of her ruling with the Third District Court of Appeal.
The fight to retain Wayne Slaton as mayor has already cost the town $278,500 in legal fees. Their latest appeal is expected to add to that number.
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Friday's closed door meeting of the commission, town manager and attorneys focused on "settlement negotiations and/or strategy relating to litigation expenditures," accord to a public notice. The town will announce its decision at the next regularly scheduled commission meeting or will call a special meeting to make the announcement.
In the end they decided not to drop their appeal.
Vice-Mayor Manny Cid said he has a "sworn duty" to defend the town charter. The town insists that its charter made Slaton the "permanent" mayor, although the trial judge didn't see it that way.
Pizzi has said the town's latest appeal is a waste of taxpayer money.
Pizzi was removed from office in August 2013 by Governor Rick Scott after he was arrested as part of a government corruption investigation.
A year later he celebrated when he was found not guilty on all counts in a federal trial. Since then he had been battling to be reinstated in office.
After Pizzi's arrest, the town elected Slaton as their new mayor.
Judge Ely's ruling determined that Slaton's victory became temporary once Pizzi was exonerated and that Pizzi has the right to return as the town's mayor.
"The clear intent (of the statute) is to provide for a temporary suspension of the indicted official; and, the reinstatement of that official upon absolution," wrote Judge Gisella Cardonne Ely. "Under a plain reading of the statute, this Court, therefore, finds that Mr. Pizzi's suspension created a temporary vacancy in the Mayor's office."
The town's attorney, Raul Gastesi, said their latest appeal is supported by the Town Charter and he filed it to protect the town's and the mayor's rights.
"Mr. Pizzi has brought this on himself through his actions," said Gastesi referring to Pizzi's indictment on corruption charges.
In an email to CBS4 News, Pizzi derided Gastesi.
"So Gastesi is judge, jury and executioner," Pizzi wrote. "Incredible."
The Third District Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on April 22nd. The clock will be ticking. The trial judge's order staying his reinstatement expires April 30th.
