Donald Spadaro, Guardian of Anthony Caravella v. City of Miramar, et al.

Case Number: 062011CA014894AXXXCE

Judge: Carlos Rodriguez

Court: Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida

Plaintiff's Attorney: Barbara Ann Heyer

Defendant's Attorney: Jamie Alan Cole

Description: Fort Lauderdale, Florida personal injury lawyer represented the Plaintiff who sued Defendant on a civil rights violation theory claiming he was wrongfully convicted and sent to prison for a crime he did not commit.

This case was initially filed in the 17th Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida and was removed to federal court by the Defendants.

In 1984, Anthony Caravella was charged with rape and murder and was found guilty and sentenced to prison.

Anthony did not commit the crimes and spent 26 years in prison. In 2009, DNA evidenced showed that he did not commit the crimes and six months later he was exonerated and released.

The guardian fo Caravella filed suit on his behalf in the 17th Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida, case number 11-14894-09, and was removed to federal court by the Defendants.

Plaintiff claiming that Carvella was coerced into confessing to the 1983 murder of Ada Jankowski, age 58. He was 15-years-old at the time and was mentally challenged when he was framed by Miramar police officers George H. Pierson, Jr., William Mantesta, William Frederick Guess, Al Lamberti, Kenneth C. Jenne, II and Anthony Fantirasal

Plaintiff Donald Spadaro, acting as limited guardian for Anthony Caravella, brought suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and various state law causes of action against defendant City of Miramar, Florida, and officers George H. Pierson, Jr., William Mantesta, William Frederick Guess, Al Lamberti, Kenneth C. Jenne, II and Anthony Fantirasal. The suit alleged violation of Caravella's constitutional rights and Florida law in connection with Caravella's 1984 wrongful conviction and incarceration. Relevant to these appeals, the district court granted summary judgment in favor of defendant City of Miramar as to plaintiff Spadaro's § 1983 claim, but denied summary judgment to defendants George Pierson, William Mantesta, and William Guess as to plaintiff Spadaro's § 1983 claim. The case proceeded to trial. Ultimately, the jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff Spadaro against defendants Pierson and Mantesta on plaintiff's § 1983 claim, but returned a verdict in favor of defendant Guess on plaintiff's § 1983 claim.

Spadaro appealed challenging: (1) the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of defendant City of Miramar on plaintiff Spadaro's § 1983 claim and (2) the district court's grant of judgment as a matter of law (at the close of the plaintiff's evidence at trial) in favor of defendant City of Miramar on plaintiff Spadaro's state law claim of negligent retention and supervision. In case 13-14484, defendants Pierson and Mantesta challenge: (1) the district court's denial of their defense of qualified immunity to plaintiff Spadaro's § 1983 claim; (2) the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury's verdict against them; (3) whether the district court improperly admitted certain evidence during the trial; and (4) whether the district court erred in denying defendants' motion for new trial based on the introduction of that evidence. Plaintiff Spadaro cross-appealed, challenging the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the defendants on his state law RICO claim.

The judgement of the federal district court was affirmed in 2015.

Subsequently, the case was remanded to the State Circuit Court.

Outcome: A jury found in Caravella’s favor in 2013, awarding him $7.5 million.

02/20/2015 548 MANDATE of USCA AFFIRMING the final judgment of the district court with court's opinion; re 486 Notice of Appeal, filed by Donald Spadaro ; Date Issued: 2/20/2015 ; USCA Case Number: 13-14883-EE (mc) (Entered: 02/20/2015)
02/20/2015 549 MANDATE of USCA AFFIRMING the final judgment of the district court with court's opinion; re 487 Notice of Appeal, filed by William Mantesta, George Pierson, 490 Notice of Cross Appeal, filed by Donald Spadaro ; Date Issued: 2/20/2015 ; USCA Case Number: 13-14884-EE (mc) (Entered: 02/20/2015)
03/12/2015 550 Appeal Record Returned consisting of (1)Accordion Folder containing de# 4, 35, 241 and (1)Box containing de# 533 (Exhibis); re 487 Notice of Appeal, 486 Notice of Appeal, 490 Notice of Cross Appeal. USCA# 13-14883-EE and 13-14884-EE (mc) (Entered: 03/12/2015)

Subsequently, the case was remanded to the Broward County Circuit Court seeking an judgment against the City to honor the judgment. Rodriguez ordered Miramar to pay $2.5 million in compensatory damages and nearly $1.1 million in interest and attorneys’ fees.

Judgment in favor of Plaintiff for $2.5 million in compensatory damages and $1.1 million in punitive damages.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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