After a little more than two years of litigation, a civil case involving three elected members of the North Miami City Council is scheduled to proceed to trial on August 24, 2026, before the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in Miami-Dade County at 10:00 a.m.

It will be heard at the Osvaldo N. Soto Miami-Dade Justice Center, 20 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128, courtroom 24D. 

The lawsuit was filed by Eileen Bicaba against three North Miami elected council members, Mary Estimé-Irvin, Kassandra Timothe and Pierre Charles.  The suit alleges violations of the North Miami City Charter provision that restricts elected officials from interfering with the City Manager’s authority over city staff and administrative decisions.

According to the allegations filed with the court, the lawsuit claims that three council members violated the City Charter provision that prohibits elected officials from interfering with the City Manager’s direction and staff. The complaint alleges that the council members operated outside of the State of Florida sunshine laws when they sent third party individuals to improperly influence then City Manager Rasha Cameau to withhold discipline and/or termination of the public works director, Wisler Pierre-Louis, despite the manager’s documented problems with that employee.

Under the council-manager form of government used by many cities — including North Miami — elected officials are responsible for setting policy, representing residents and providing oversight whereas the City Manager is generally responsible for the day to day administration of city departments and management of municipal employees.  The purpose of these structures is to help ensure that personnel decisions are handled professionally and without improper political pressure.  North Miami’s charter strictly prohibits electeds from interfering with city staff, punishable by removal from office.

The trial will be held in person.  Residents are encouraged to attend the trial.

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