By Charles Rabin, Miami Herald Joe Martinez, the Miami-Dade commissioner suspended by the governor for his alleged participation in a public corruption scheme that prosecutors say netted him thousands of dollars, took a defiant pose before a bank of television cameras Tuesday morning, announcing his entry into a crowded field vying to become Miami-Dade County’s […]
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Fort Lauderdale police sued over their actions during BLM protest
By Marybel Rodriguez, CBS News FORT LAUDERDALE – It was four years ago when hundreds of people gathered in Fort Lauderdale to protest the death of George Floyd and it was on that day, May 31, 2020, when Latoya Ratlieff claims to have been pepper sprayed and shot by police with rubber bullets. “I may have suffered some […]
U.S District Judge Denies City’s Request To Dismiss Case
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION OPA-LOCKA FACES TRIAL FOR SAVAGE BEATING OF MENTALLY ILL TEENAGER INSIDE HIS HOME Citing the savage beating of Jafet Castro, “a teenager suffering from mental illness,” by Opa-Locka police officers, U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams denied the City’s request to dismiss the case. The police officer defendants named in the lawsuit […]
Woman shot in face with rubber bullet scores a victory in legal fight with Fort Lauderdale
By Camila Burris, Miami Herald Over three years after Fort Lauderdale police officer Eliezer Ramos shot a foam rubber bullet into the face of LaToya Ratlieff, a federal judge ruled that the officer’s defense of “just-following-orders” does not afford him qualified immunity from Ratlieff’s civil rights lawsuit against him. The recent ruling means that Ramos […]
Miami Lakes is ordered to pay legal fees for acquitted ex-mayor. It could cost millions
By Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald The town of Miami Lakes must pay the legal fees its former mayor spent to successfully defend himself against criminal charges almost a decade ago, a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge ruled Friday, potentially leaving taxpayers on the hook for millions of dollars. The decision is a victory for Michael Pizzi […]
Florida appeals court sides with Rebekah Jones, placing her back on the primary ballot
By Andrea Chu, 10 Tampa Bay WTSP After facing some legal challenges, Rebekah Jones will officially have her name on the ballot for Florida Congressional District 1. On Monday night, a day before the primary, an appeals court sided with the former Florida COVID data worker, reversing a previous lower-court ruling that had removed her from the race. In […]
‘Every Lawyer Should Take on a Civil Rights Case’: South Florida Attorneys Repping BLM Protester Shot in Head
By Raychel Lean, Daily Business Review Though video footage of George Floyd’s neck under the knee of a police officer propelled the issue of police brutality to the forefront of public consciousness, many attorneys are still reluctant to take on cases that could help tackle the problem. That’s according to the South Florida team representing […]
Two years after being shot in face by rubber bullet, protester sues Fort Lauderdale police
By Sarah Blaskey, The Miami Herald Two years ago, almost to the day, Fort Lauderdale police officer Eliezer Ramos raised a weapon, took aim through a cloud of tear gas and shot LaToya Ratlieff with a so-called rubber bullet, fracturing her eye socket. Ratlieff had been peacefully demonstrating in downtown Fort Lauderdale on May 31, […]
Prosecutors drop charges in Key Biscayne COVID face mask arrests
By Tony Winton, Key Biscayne Independent Citing a blanket pardon from Gov. Ron DeSantis, prosecutors said Monday they would drop all charges against two Village residents arrested last year after they refused orders to wear facial coverings at a crowded community meeting. Defense attorney Ben Kuehne, who represented Alex Serrano and Nina Wallin, said the action showed […]
Silver Medallion honorees celebrated for their humanitarian efforts in S. Florida
By Dina Allende, Miami’s Community News Since 1946, MCCJ has awarded the Humanitarian Silver Medallion to South Florida residents who have exhibited extraordinary humanitarian efforts that mirror MCCJ’s mission of creating an inclusive community. This year, seven awardees were honored on Sunday, Feb. 27, in front of over 400 attendees where Mayor Daniella Levine Cava […]