Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris today filed notice in Circuit Court through his attorney that he was voluntarily dismissing his lawsuit against the city he represents and Council member Charles Gambaro, with prejudice–meaning that it cannot be refiled.
Mt. Dora attorney Anthony Sabatini filed the notice early this afternoon, soon after being served a letter by the city’s attorney, warning that the city would pursue financial sanctions against Norris if the lawsuit remained active.
Norris filed the lawsuit on May 5, seven months after the council appointed Gambaro to the District 4 seat, Norris argued that the Gambaro seat should have been opened to an election in November 2024. The city, represented by GrayRobinson attorney Rachael Crews, argued that crucial deadlines had passed by the time Cathy Heighter resigned her council seat last August, making an election beyond impractical.
Circuit Judge Chris France agreed at a July 3 hearing, but also ruled that Norris had no standing to sue to start with. Norris then filed a motion for rehearing. Sabatini contended that the court failed to consider Norris’s standing under a particular part of Florida law, as opposed to a part France applied.
“This is false,” Crews wrote in the city’s answer to the court, filed late last week. “This exact standing argument was a central focus of [Norris’s] argument at the July 3, 2025, hearing, and it was specifically addressed and rejected in the Court’s Final Order.”
A motion for rehearing is required as a step before an appeal. Months ago, Norris said in remarks to FlaglerLive that while he anticipated losing in Circuit Court, he was prepared to take the case to the Supreme Court. He also told his colleagues on the council, when they sought to have him pay one or all the legal fees his lawsuit had cost taxpayers–about $30,000 until then–that he didn’t care if he cost the city $1 million.
Norris spoke differently at a town hall on July 29, suggesting that the boast had not sat well with at least a segment of what supporters he has left. “I have people in this city, multi-millionaires, that have said ‘I will appeal that case and take it as far as I can,’ but I don’t want to cost the city money,” he said. He has also toned down the rhetoric about Gambaro and, for the last few meetings that he has chaired, focused on the business at hand, though he is still not fulfilling customary mayoral roles as previous mayors have.
“Time to get back to city business,” said Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri, who has been filling in for Norris’s absence on numerous occasions, including on Wednesday, when U.S. Rep. Randy Fine visited one of the city’s waste water treatment plants. “I think Council has been very focused on city business, but I think for the community for our residents, this is a positive thing because now we’re not embroiled in the lawsuit between a council member and a mayor, and that’s never healthy for a city. And so I think to be able to have this dismissal and to know that we’re not going to continue to spend resident monies on this lawsuit is a positive thing.”
Jim says
I hope Sabatini has billed Norris an arm and a leg for this stupid lawsuit. Norris is a tough guy until somebody tells him they’re going to get into his pocket. Then he chickens out. Maybe we should call him “Little TACO”.
He still needs to either resign (nope, likes the paycheck), be removed by DeSantis (nope, nothing in it for DeSantis) or the citizens of PC decide to recall him.
He didn’t even meet with our congressman when he visited. I guess he was too busy talking to his lawyer or updating his Facebook page or huddling with his crackpot supporters. What a mayor!
I know we’re going to keep on electing Republicans in this city; that’s just a fact for now. That said, is there any way you Republicans could vet your candidates better from now on? Ultimately, this isn’t good for your brand. Remember, Sears and Kmart used to be king of the hill in retail and look what happened to them. Picking such fine candidates as you’ve put up in the last few years and, most recently, Norris and Fine doesn’t bode well for the future! There are some good people in the Republican party and I wonder just how much longer they can stand by and watch this crap.
Justbob says
Enough egg on his face to make an omelette.
Respectfully your's says
Mayor Norris,
It’s time, you can be a good Mayor please try.
We need to move forward.
Resident of PC.
Ed Danko, former Vice-Mayor, PC says
It appears “Million Dollar Mike” lost his nerve when faced with the reality that he would have to repay taxpayers for the cost of his frivolous lawsuit. This coward was willing to spend a million in tax dollars to go to the Supreme Court, but couldn’t stomach the cost of putting his own money where his big mouth is! The city should withhold his pay until we recoup all legal fees or he resigns!
Call me Disappointed says
Norris is such a loser on all counts.
His talk is cheap but a beer costs money and he’s going to try to milk the city dry.
We all just wish he would crawl back into the hole he’s dug himself and disappear so his “no facts-just made up dope” minions could disappear too. That one lady who’s trying to run in district 2 sure makes up some weird stuff and does her politicking for 3 minutes on and on and on. She sure made up a bunch of no factual stuff on Tuesday night! Whooeee!
NJ says
Mayor Mike Norris realized that being the Mayor of Palm Coast is a POWERLESS position ( as stated in the city charter) and that is WHY Palm Coast is CONTROLLED by the Realtors/ Contractors/ Developers OBLIGATORY!!! WHO will FIGHT for Palm Coast’s FREEDOM? Everyone COMPLAINS about the CRAZY Developments that have NO plans for the increase in traffic, increase in water use, increase waste water, and increase demands on the Storm Water System; yet NO ONE asks how and why all recent Developments were Approved WITHOUT Common Sense Planning! Think BEFORE voting in the next election!
carol ann stoughton says
Well, this Jim guy gets first, but he is a usual basher, and probably is someone blogging for the corruption, however, had the city Attorney not allowed Mr G, the 1 star now Congress candidate who started this all, as there was a ethics violation that Duffy paid no attention to on the night Mr. G ran to the chair and sat down after being illegally sworn in. So look at facts, and Mr. Norris was voted in by an overwhelming majority, and if you Jim are a real voter, and not a bot, come to a council meeting and speak if you are real.
Andy Montgomery says
Poor little mike.
Why is everybody pickin on u?
Eating ones team of helpers lacks leadership awareness.
A happy puppy and content consensus builder at government meetings appears outside mikes capabilities.
Can’t be enjoyable to be ignored and embarrassed by lack of knowledge of being a mayor and alienation of co leaders.
Again, poor mike.
“They” did it to him.
Poor mike certainly can not be held responsible for the untenable situation poor mike has created.
That’s just unfair to consider character and unacceptable behavior a necessity to lead.
Go coach poor mike, go go go!
James says
Wow, Norris finally used his brain. The city should go after him for the $30k he’s already cost us by defending against his nonsense. Mayor Norris is a bum.
NJ says
Mayor Norris has finally realized that the Real Power Leadership in Palm Coast is the “Realtor/Contractor/Developer CARTEL! “
CK says
@NJ my god! You’re so Uber unhappy and too poor to live in Palm Coast. Take cry baby Norris and the rest of your hare brained group of losers and yourself and move to some podunk town you fit in. Stop your constant bellyaching.
Mike Norris owes our city 30K for his unnecessary trash lawsuit! Pay up or get out Mike Norris.
Critical Eye says
Will Norris continue poking himself in the eye? Or will he tuck tail and run away as he is known for ? Either way this Swiss Cheese for brains idiot is eating crow. He clearly doesn’t want to pay us back the 30grand he owes us citizens for his evil deeds and actions.
Such a COWARD LOZER!!!
NJ says
DemoRATS like CK have given the Leadership Power to R/C/D-Cartel. I served on a Planning Commission that Really used Common Sense Zoning to CONTROL Development. Is CK a member of the R/C/D-Cartel ( you sound like a Realtor or Contractor) who only wants to approve every CRAZY Development Plan. CK should MOVE back to SHIT4BRAINSLAND!
Taxpayer says
The City of PC Officials has allowed Realtors, Developers and Contractors ruin the city. Take a look around houses being built and remain empty. Traffic is ridiculous no matter what street you drive on. You get a green light move forward and the next light is red, they aren’t even coordinated to keep the traffic flowing.
Streets with the grass in the center are no longer being cared for is overgrown everywhere you look. When Mayor Nett’s was Mayor, you would drive around the town, and it was so well manicured it no longer looks that way.
It is time taxpayers seriously educate yourself on who you vote for because so far, the ones elected have failed.
It’s time Norris throws in the hat he has nothing positive to offer the City of PC.
Bob says
In a democracy, our leaders reflect the quality of intellect of the voters. The less we spend on education, the worse our leaders become. And Mr. Norris is the inevitable outcome. But the problems here are manifold, and some of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of the billionaires who now guide our country and our culture to the tune of empty-headed pleasures. It isn’t money that trickles down; it’s self-serving billionaire ideologies. And where do those come from? The illness that was Neitszsche’s Superman infected Ayn Rand’s John Galt, and from there, it spread to Musk and Theil and many others. We plebeians are simply fodder to be ground into their dreams of greatness.
CK says
@NJ 🤣😂🤣😂🤪 I’m a Republican my dear not a RINO like you and Norris and your, as you say, the rest of your people from shit4brains up north New York, New Jersey, Long Island places with their heads stuck in the ground. You can’t hold a candle to a Democrat. The Democrats know what they stand for. Many of my friends are wonderful people that happen to be Democratic’s. So much more informed than the wannabe RINO bunch like Norris and you that are full of hate and prejudice against fellow Americans. Shame on you RINOs .
Real Republicans like me can spot your kind miles away. I’m a native Floridian and like all us native Floridians, we all know and laugh at your type. Y’all come here as poor people from up north thinking and feeling rich and spend all the money in their pockets like drunk sailors. Yep, we’re familiar with your kind. I’m 82 years old my dear seen lots and lots of you kind crash and burn out. You think you have the right to come to Florida and push everyone around and act like you’re someone special. I got news for you dear you are low man totem pole.
You sound just the same as those who move here and buy what they think are fancy houses and spend all their money on big cars, they just love all those fancy gadgets 🤣😂🤣 they buy expensive boats and are just wannabes thinking they are living a luxurious lifestyles 🤡 until all their money is gone and it’s back to being poor and then they scream. “Taxes are too high, insurance is too high, the water is too high priced. It’s all the builders fault.”
You should have stayed up north. But you were too shortsighted and you can’t take responsibility for your dumb actions. Just like the fool coward lazy Norris.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
There’s a big difference between Real Republicans and RINO’s. RINO’s don’t have a clue what they themselves are. They’ve mostly just plain miserable. Go somewhere else. Florida doesn’t want you.
CK says
CK is not a Realtor or a Democrat. NJ isn’t very smart isn’t smart at all. Just an uninformed Norris supporter and that sums it up! 🤡🤪
Independant voter says
CK you sure are very bitter over states from up north maybe you should visit some time and see the manners, the class and the intelligent people that exists up there. They’re kindness and generosity may rub off on you.
CK says
Dear Independent Voter Actually you’re the one that sounds bitter.
I never said all people from up north have no class. Those are your words, not mine. There are many nice people from up north. I have many many friends from up north, probably more than you and they will be the first to agree with my comments.
So Sorry if I hurt your little feelings. 😢
Unfortunately there are many Poor northerners like NJ that have moved to Palm Coast. They come here with their big bully bad attitudes and think Florida owns them a living. Ya’ll need to understand that it’s all us native Floridians that has made Florida the greatest state in America.
You need to show your gratitude and say thank you instead of playing the victim.
CK says
Dear Independent Voter.
There are plenty of nice folks from up north. I know several. Didn’t mean to hurt your little feelings. Unfortunately there is a lot of poor northerners like NJ that have moved to Palm Coast with very big bully bad attitudes and feel like Florida owes them a living.
Ya’ll should remember it’s us native Floridians that have made Florida the greatest state in America. Try being thankful instead of playing the victim.