City Keeps Homefield Advantage in Sex Offender Suit

Sex offender lawsuit to stay in the city

Miami has won Round 1 against the state in a fight to remove registered sex offenders from under the Julia Tuttle bridge.

A judge has ruled that a Miami lawsuit over a sex offender camp under a bridge should stay in the city.

Circuit Court Judge Victoria Sigler ruled Thursday that the lawsuit should not be transferred to Tallahassee, as lawyers for the state of Florida had argued. The decision will be appealed.

The camp for offenders has grown over the past three years with offenders having a hard time finding affordable housing that doesn't violate Miami-Dade County laws about how close offenders can live to schools and parks. Miami officials say the camp is too close to a small island park accessible only by boat.

Lawyers did not argue a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which has also been filed. Arguments on that motion were set for Aug. 20.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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