Miami Escapes Civil Conspiracy Claims in Immunity-Boosting Case

Florida cities are immune from civil conspiracy claims targeting the misbehavior of local officials, a state appeals court has ruled, dismissing the City of Miami from a case targeting a former official’s real estate scam.

The alleged conspiracy centered on City Attorney Victoria Méndez steering property owners with code violations to her husband’s real estate company. He’d then overstate the severity of the problems, buy the properties on the cheap and flip them, all while Méndez would waive fees and fast-track permits to enrich her family.

The state’s broad government immunity statute blocks plaintiffs from dragging cities to court in ...