Attorneys clash during hearing over lawsuit filed against city of Miami, some employees

MIAMI — Tensions were high in a South Florida federal courtroom on Monday following a pending lawsuit filed against the city of Miami and several of its employees.

It comes after two Little Havana businessmen claim some city officials helped bring down their businesses by abusing their power.

During Monday’s hearing, the attorney for the plaintiffs and the attorney representing the city of Miami had heated exchanges over several witnesses who did not show up for depositions last week.

One attorney claimed the city failed to send deposition subpoenas to those witnesses.

The judge in the case eventually recused himself, saying there was a conflict of interest involving his daughter, who is part of the legal team representing former Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo.

Acevedo was one of the witnesses expected to give a deposition.

“I never was subpoenaed, so even the perception that would disregard the law, which is something this city has a pattern of practice of doing, bothered me,” Acevedo told Local 10. “So I wanted to make sure, I made a lot of changes to be here today, because that was a commitment I made when I left here in October of 2021, that I would do everything I could within my power to speak the truth and to hold this city government that I believe is a very corrupt, accountable.”

Attorneys representing the city declined the opportunity to speak with Local 10 News.

The case will now move forward, but with a new judge on a new trial date, and potentially with new witnesses.

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