Audio By Carbonatix
Today is Local News Day
A national day of action to support and celebrate the trusted local journalism that strengthens communities. If you believe local news matters — this is the day to show your support. Make a contribution today to help keep our reporting free and accessible to all.
For a city that routinely gets swindled by its bribe-taking employees, Miami Beach sure fights tooth and nail over its lawsuits.
On Tuesday, city attorneys successfully appealed a $700,000 jury award to a firefighter who had claimed she was sexually harassed by male co-workers. Now city officials have successfully shaved more than $30,000 off of the amount it owes Dale Picardat Jr. for falsely arresting him for looking poor and out-of-place in Normandy Shores.
See also:
– Miami Beach Ordered to Pay Man $100,000 After Falsely Arresting Him for Looking Poor
Picardat was awarded more than $100,000 by a jury last month. But city attorneys vowed to appeal the decision.
The two sides met yesterday for mediation and agreed on a $70,000 settlement.
In an email to New Times, Picardat said that he agreed to take less compensation because he wanted to avoid yet another trial and the associated court costs.
Picardat’s case has already had results, however, dramatically reducing Miami Beach police’s use of flimsy loitering/prowling charges to remove undesirables from ritzy neighborhoods.
“If cops do something wrong, you have to stand up to them,” Picardat told New Times. “The Constitution doesn’t benefit you in any form if you don’t use it.”
Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes. Follow this journalist on Twitter @MikeMillerMiami.
