Deerfield left with $585K bill for ex-mayor’s legal defense

DEERFIELDBEACH— Thirteen years after a vote that resulted in charges of criminal corruption against him, formerMayor Al Capellini’s legal saga came to an endWednesday night.

The City Commission agreed to accept a $125,000 settlement with its insurer to go toward paying the $735,000 cost of defending Capellini against the charge, dismissed after a two-week trial in 2014.

State lawrequires municipalities to pay the legal fees of elected officials charged with corruption in the course of performing official duties if they are found not guilty.

The original $1.2 million bill to defend Capelliniwas negotiated down to $735,000 and paid. One of the city’s insurers, Star Insurance, reimbursed the city $25,000 toward the cost. But the city’s other insurer, Lloyd’s of London, declined to pay anything, so the city sued last year. The two sides settled on a $125,000 payment fromthe insurer, it was statedWednesday.

Thatwould leave the city with a $585,000 bill for Capellini’s defense.

“It’s a very good settlement,” said Scott Zaslav, a Fort Lauderdale attorney the city hired to represent the claim.

He explained that the citywon a motion to dismiss the claim, but Lloyd’s of Londonwas going to mount some convincing arguments for summary judgment against the city.

“Itwould be quite expensive to pursue this,” saidMayor Jean Robb.

The motion to accept the settlement passed unanimously.

Capellini’s charges stemmed froma 2003 vote on a development project he said at his 2014 trial he cast "by mistake." He received a $10,000 consulting fee on the project.

Broward Circuit JudgeMarc Gold ended Capellini's trial withoutwaiting for a jury verdict. The state Ethics Commission, however, found last August therewas evidence that the former mayor violated ethics rules.

Capellini served as a commissioner in Deerfield Beach from1989 to 1993, then as mayor from1993 until 2009.

Hewasn't charged until five years after the vote. And after that, his case was delayed until 2014 for a variety of reasons, including motions filed by his lawyer.