HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemorandumCITY OF MIAMI
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: George K. Wysong III, City Attorney klifrs,t2z-
DATE: December 11, 2025
RE: City Commission Meeting — December 11, 2025
Proposed Settlement — Hannibal Buress v. Luis Verne pending in the United
States District Court Southern District of Florida
Case No.: 20-CV-23078-KMW
File No.: 18480
The proposed resolution seeks authorization for the settlement of the pending
lawsuit of Hannibal Buress v. Luis Verne, in the amount of $200,000.00, in the matter of
Hannibal Buress v. Luis Verne, pending in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of Florida.
The Office of the City Attorney has investigated and evaluated this case and has
approved the recommendation of this settlement. Funds in the above amount will be
paid from the General Liability Account No. 50001.301001.545010.0000.00000.
Attachment(s)
cc. Art Noriega, V, City Manager
Miriam M. Santana, Agenda Coordinator
GKW/BLF
City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
Enactment Number: R-25-0511
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 18480 Final Action Date:12/11/2025
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR
OF FINANCE TO PAY HANNIBAL BURESS, WITHOUT ADMISSION OF LIABILITY,
THE TOTAL SUM OF $200,000.00 IN FULL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF ANY
AND ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS, INCLUDING ALL CLAIMS FOR ATTORNEYS'
FEES AND COSTS, AGAINST LUIS VERNE IN THE CASE STYLED HANNIBAL
BURESS VS. LUIS VERNE, PENDING IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, CASE NO. 20-CV-23078-KMW,
UPON THE EXECUTION OF A GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS AND
DEMANDS BROUGHT UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 1983 AND STATE LAW PENDING IN
FEDERAL COURT AND A DISMISSAL OF LUIS VERNE WITH PREJUDICE;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO. 50001.301001.545010.0000.00000.
WHEREAS, on December 9, 2017, Hannibal Buress ("Buress") was arrested by Officer
Luis Verne that resulted in alleged damages to Buress; and
WHEREAS, Buress and Luis Verne are engaged in litigation in United States District
Court in the Southern District of Florida, Case No.: 1:20-CV-23078-KMW, concerning claims for
alleged violations of Civil Rights and state law tort claims related to same; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney's Office has investigated these claims and the lawsuit
pursuant to Sections 18-221 through 18-232 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as
amended, and recommends that said claims and lawsuit be settled for the total aggregate sum
of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00), including the claims for attorneys' fees and
costs;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The Director of Finance is authorized1 to pay Buress, without admission of
liability, the total sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) in full and complete
settlement of any and all claims and demands, including all claims for attorneys' fees, against
Luis Verne in the case styled Hannibal Buress vs. Luis Verne, pending in the United States
District Court in the Southern District of Florida, Case No.: 1:20-CV-23078-KMW, upon the
execution of a general release of all claims and demands brought for alleged violations of civil
rights, state law tort claims pending in federal court and a dismissal of Luis Verne with prejudice.
Section 3. Funds to be allocated from Account No. 50001.301001.545010.0000.00000.
1 The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all legal requirements that may be
imposed, including but not limited to, those prescribed by applicable City Charter and City Code
provisions.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ge WY3 ng III, C "y -ttor -y 12/2/2025