D
eveloper Bill Fuller and his partners extracted a $12.5 million settlement from the city of Miami after alleging a politically motivated code enforcement crackdown against their Little Havana venues. The deal was approved by the Miami City Commission in a 4-1 vote on Thursday, ending a three-year-old federal civil lawsuit. The complaint claimed that Mad Room Hospitality suffered $27.9 million in damages due to allegedly trumped up and unlawful code and building violations that forced the closure of Ball & Chain bar and Taquerias El Mexicano restaurant.

    The settlement is the latest blow to Commissioner Joe Carollo, who voted against it and has been feuding with Fuller since 2017. A Fort Lauderdale federal jury found Carollo personally liable for violating Fuller's rights last year, awarding a $63.5 million verdict that led to a court order to garnish his city wages. The city admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement but acknowledged that if Mad Room had prevailed, it could have recovered attorney's fees exceeding the settlement amount.

    The $12.5 million will be divided into two payments, with Miami taxpayers covering $8 million and the city's insurer responsible for the remainder. A spokesperson said settling was a sound financial decision to avoid further costs, which would have been incurred if the lawsuit continued.