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Consideration of Request Submitted by Jovite C. Palardis to Reduce Outstanding Special Master Order in Public Nuisance Case
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BRIEF OVERVIEW
In Case No.: 23-19657, Hernando County v. Jovite Palardis, the Special Master found Mr. Palardis guilty of having two public nuisance dogs in violation of Section 6-26, Hernando County Code, which ruled that two dogs under the control of Mr. Palardis caused an irreversible offense to the complainant by killing or injuring a total of six animals on a neighboring property. The hearing was held on September 13, 2023; Mr. Palardis received notice of the hearing but did not appear. The Special Master ordered Mr. Palardis to pay a civil penalty of $20,000.00 ($10,000 for each dog), $140.00 in administrative and investigative costs, $100.00 for the County Attorney’s fee, and certified mail costs of $26.28, for a total of $20,266.28. The order was mailed to Mr. Palardis on January 23, 2024.
Subsequent to the Special Master ruling, the neighbor who owned the killed and injured animals took Mr. Palardis to Small Claims Court, Case No. 24-SC-1897, and succeeded in obtaining a Joint Stipulation for Repayment to which Mr. Palardis agreed to pay the victim neighbor $50.000 each month towards an agreed settlement amount of $6,700.00.
On January 14, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners denied a request from Mr. Palardis asking that the civil penalty, administrative fees and other costs associated with the Special Master Order be forgiven.
Mr. Palardis has retained the services of an attorney and is now asking that the Board reconsider its previous denial and accept $5,000 as a compromise. The County Administrator consented to bringing this latest appeal back to the Board.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This matter presents no financial impact to the County.
LEGAL NOTE
The Board has the authority to act upon this matter pursuant to Florida Statute 125.01.
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board make a decision on Mr. Palardis’ restated appeal. If the decision is to waive the civil penalty, administrative and investigative fees, and costs ordered by the Special Master, whether in whole or in part, it is recommended that the County Attorney’s Office be directed to prepare the necessary release or satisfaction and that the Chairman be authorized to sign that document. Per the Board’s standard practice, the Clerk’s Finance Division should be directed to issue Mr. Palardis an IRS Form 1099 in the amount of any forgiven lien or monetary penalty.