Florida man settles legal battle with city for $875,000

Having twice failed to get its way at U.S. Supreme Court, city of Riviera Beach has agreed to pay $875,000 to settle a dece-long legal battle that began over a floating home.

settlement was reached Monday and will be presented to City Council for approval next month,

city of Riviera Beach has alrey spent more than $1 million in attorneys' fees since 2006, when its fight began with Fane Lozman, a retired U.S. Marine who became a millionaire after inventing software used to track stock tres.

U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that city h right to seize and destroy Lozman's 60-foot floating home by invoking centuries-old maritime laws.

Lozman h docked home in city marina and began protesting a w-abandoned multibillion-dollar redevelopment plan. Supreme Court left it up to a district judge to determine how much home was worth, and Lozman received thing.

After both sides returned to Supreme Court, justices said in 2018 that y were deeply disturbed that Riviera Beach council members silenced Lozman by having him arrested while he was speaking to m during a 2006 meeting, and sent case back to lower courts.

U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks took over case in December and told both sides to resolve ir differences. proposed settlement would cover legal fees; city also agreed to pay Lozman a single dollar.

Lozman said his lawsuits clarified important areas of law.

In floating home case, which Chief Justice John Roberts called his favorite of term, court cleared up a murky area of law, ruling that just because something floats, doesn't make it a boat.

In First Amendment case, Lozman said high court put government ncies on tice that y can’t silence critics.

“You can fight city hall, but you better be able to give up half of your ult life to do it,” Lozman said.

(Representational Im)