Hallandale Beach recesses to closed attorney-client session in Mayer, Panzarelli suit
November 05, 2025 | Hallandale Beach, Broward County, Florida
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The session was limited to the officials she named: Mayor Joy Cooper; Vice Mayor Michelle Lazaro; Commissioner Joy Adams; Commissioner Annabelle Lima Tom; City Manager Jeremy Earl; City Attorney Jennifer Reno; and outside counsel Christopher Stearns. The presiding officer said proceedings would be recorded by a certified court reporter and that, "at the conclusion of all litigation discussed, the transcript will be part of the public record." The commission recessed to a back conference room where only the listed individuals would be in attendance.
After several minutes in closed session, Mayor Joy Cooper reopened the public meeting, saying, "The attorney client session has now been terminated, and members of the general public are now invited to return for any proceedings." The meeting resumed briefly and was then adjourned.
No formal votes or other public actions related to the litigation were announced when the commission returned to open session, and the record shows the city clerk closed the meeting following the reopening. The commission did not state any next steps publicly in the transcript excerpt provided.
The statute cited, Florida Statute 286.011, governs exceptions to the state's Sunshine Law that allow certain attorney-client communications to occur in private. The commission's use of the statute to hold a closed session is consistent with that statutory exception when litigation strategy is discussed in private.
The certified court reporter's transcript of the closed session was described as part of the record to be made public at the conclusion of the litigation; no date for that release was provided in the meeting transcript.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meetingSponsors
Proudly supported by sponsors who keep Florida articles free in 2025
