On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Political Cortadito reported that Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Joseph Perkins recused himself from a defamation lawsuit filed by Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago against Actualidad Radio.

The lawsuit, initiated in December 2023, stems from a February 2023 radio broadcast discussing an ethics investigation into Lago’s actions. The recusal, announced on May 19, 2025, was documented in a brief statement without specifying a reason, stating only that the case would be reassigned to another judge in the Circuit Civil Division.

The case centers on a 2023 broadcast that addressed an ethics inquiry into an affidavit Lago signed during a public commission meeting. The affidavit denied business ties between his immediate family and the largest property owner in Little Gables, a neighborhood under consideration for annexation.

Critics allege the affidavit was misleading because it omitted “siblings” from the definition of family, despite Lago’s brother, attorney Carlos Lago, being a registered lobbyist for the property owner at the time. The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust investigated the matter, which it classified as an “initial review,” but closed it after determining Lago may have relied on a prior definition of family.

Perkins, who was elected to the 11th Circuit Court in 2020, had presided over the case for nearly 18 months. During this time, the court saw extensive activity, including depositions, case management hearings, and discovery motions, with 132 dockets filed with the Miami-Dade Clerk’s office. In August 2024, Perkins dismissed the case, ruling Lago’s claims were “legally insufficient” under Florida’s anti-SLAPP statute, which protects free speech on public issues. However, he allowed Lago’s attorneys to amend the complaint, enabling the lawsuit to continue.

Lago’s legal team alleges the broadcast was orchestrated to harm his reputation, pointing to Coral Gables Commissioner Ariel Fernandez and former radio host Roberto Rodriguez-Tejera, though neither is named as a defendant. Subpoenas have been issued to various individuals, including firefighter union presidents and the Miami Herald’s publisher, to identify sources of information about the ethics inquiry.

Following Perkins’ recusal, the case has been reassigned to Circuit Court Judge Javier Enriquez, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023. Enriquez, who serves in the family court’s domestic violence division, will need to review the extensive case history, with new depositions scheduled for July 2025.

 

 

Source: Political Cortadito