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Historic Verdict Finds Three North Miami Council Members in Violation of City Charter
NORTH MIAMI, FL, August 27, 2026 — In a landmark decision today, a court has ruled that three sitting City of North Miami council members, Kassandra Timothe, Mary Estime-Irvin and Pierre Frantz-Charles, violated the city charter by interfering with the day-to-day operations of the city administration. The historic verdict confirms that the council members breached Section 19 of the charter, which establishes a strict separation of powers between the policy-making council and the executive role of the city manager.
According to Section 19 of the City of North Miami Charter, “Any councilmember violating the provisions of this section, or voting or a resolution or ordinance in violation of this section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall cease to be a councilmember.”
“Today is a watershed moment for accountability in North Miami,” said Eileen Bicaba, the plaintiff in the lawsuit. “This verdict proves that no elected official is above the law. The city charter exists to protect municipal operations from unauthorized interference, and this decision restores the integrity of our local government.”
The lawsuit originally included an allegation of a Florida Sunshine Law violation, which was dismissed during the proceedings. However, the conclusive ruling on the charter breach represents a significant legal and political shift for the city.
Laura Hill, who served as a legal assistant on the case, provided critical support throughout the trial. “Supporting Eileen Bicaba in this pursuit of justice has been deeply rewarding,” Hill stated. “This case underscores the importance of adhering to the rules that govern our city, and I am proud to have assisted the legal team in achieving this historic outcome.”
