I can't help but laugh, man...this type of thing is going to happen more often, I think.
Miramar’s city commission has agreed to pay $565,000 to settle a five-year-old lawsuit brought by a trio of senior white city police officers who claimed they were illegally denied promotions by a black police chief who wanted to “have his command staff mirror” Miramar’s majority minority population.
The city did not admit liability. The commission voted 5-0 to approve the deal on June 22.
City records show that Miramar decided to settle on May 12, the same day Broward Circuit Judge Michele Towbin-Singer denied the city’s motion that sought to toss out much of the complaint.
Under the terms of the settlement, former Majors John Savaiko and Jeffrey Levine and ex-Captain Ronnie Dimler will receive $150,000 each. Their lawyers at Fort Lauderdale’s Amlong law firm will collect $115,000 for fees and costs.
The city’s legal costs to defend the lawsuit were not made public. But City Attorney Burnadette Norris-Weeks and her law firm receive an annual retainer of about $30,000, plus $200 an hour to represent the city in lawsuits. The firm, Austin, Pamies, Norris Weeks Powell PLLC, was awarded a five-year city contract in September 2019.
Miramar pays $565,000 to settle white officers' suit alleging reverse racism
By Dan Christensen, FloridaBulldog.org - Miramar pays $565,000 to settle white police officers' suit alleging reverse racism.
www.floridabulldog.org
