Miami Lakes will pay former Mayor Michael Pizzi $1.625 million for legal fees for his defense in a federal criminal case, a decision that ends a decade of courtroom battles and payments to lawyers. After a jury found in 2014 that Pizzi was not guilty of conspiracy to commit extortion and bribery, he wanted the town pay more than $2.5 million to his lawyers and sued. Reimbursement of a public official’s legal fees is allowed in...

  The Women’s Breast & Heart Initiative of Miami Lakes is offering free mammograms and heart screenings in partnership with Macy’s and Jackson Health System. Women who make an appointment may have breast exams at Macy’s at Westland Mall, 1777 S. 49th St. in Hialeah. Patients will be seen from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 22. They will then be able to enjoy a Macy’s mini-makeover, samples...

The law firm that represents the Town of Miami Lakes has won a new government client: The City of Doral. Doral hired Gastesi, Lopez & Mestre, PLLC on June 3. The firm, based in Miami Lakes at 8105 NW 155th St., won a contract potentially worth $1.74 million. Doral will pay it $25,000 per month for the first year and increase the rate to $30,000 per month in years two through five, according to the contract. “We got...

Litigation between former Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi and the town is nearly settled, the parties said. After a federal jury found in 2014 that Pizzi was not guilty of conspiracy to commit extortion and bribery, he sought to have the town pay more than $2.5 million in legal fees. On Friday, he said that he and the town agreed that the municipality will pay him $1.625 million, spread out in three payments made over three fiscal...

     Mater Lakes Academy’s Law Society ended the mock trial season with new accomplishments for the students and school. The team took first place in the 2024 Miami-Dade County Private/Charter competition in February, the school said. At the 2024 Mock Trial State Tournament held in March at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, the team won third place, a significant win after finishing 5th place two years ago, the...