Federal judge denies Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo new trial, reduction in $63M verdict

Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo denied new trial

MIAMI - A federal judge has denied Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo's request for a new trial or to reduce the amount he was ordered to pay in a federal lawsuit.

Back in June, Carollo was ordered to pay $63.5 million after a jury found him guilty of violating the First Amendment rights of two local businessmen who supported Carollo's political opponent.

The judge maintained that the trial's verdict was supported by evidence and would stand.

Carollo's request for another trial was also rejected.

This comes as Carollo faces the possibility of his Coconut Grove home being auctioned to pay off a portion of the multi-million dollar verdict.

Mauricio Maldonado

Mauricio Maldonado is a digital editor for CBS Miami and has been a digital journalist in the South Florida area since 1997. Mauricio started at the Miami Herald in 1990 and transitioned over to their online team in 1997. In 2001, he moved north to lend his talents to SunSentinel.com, where he spent 17 years. Mauricio has been with CBS Miami since 2018.