- June 21, 2025
Dear Editor:
Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris made a curious choice picking Anthony Sabatini as his attorney to represent him in his lawsuit against the city for alleged City Charter violations regarding the appointment of Councilman Charles Gambaro.
Sabatini, while holding several public offices in Florida, has a history of controversies and a track record of losing civil lawsuits in the role of attorney. During the COVID crisis, Sabatini filed over a dozen lawsuits in Florida towns and counties challenging mask mandates, none of which were successful. In one of the suits, the judge urged him to "reflect on the possibility that, at some point, he could be sanctioned for filing frivolous lawsuits." And less than three months ago, Sabatini was sanctioned by Circuit Court Judge Peter F. Estrada in Highlands County for filing an election lawsuit with factual untruths. As a result, he and his client were ordered to pay the defendant's legal costs.
Of note, and likening it to the previous court rulings and judicial criticisms directed at Norris' attorney, the law firm representing Palm Coast and Gambaro in the mayor’s lawsuit also described his suit as “frivolous” and suggestive of political motives.
In October, 2020, the Orlando Sentinel's editorial board labeled him as “the worst person in the Florida Legislature.”
As recently as last month, Sabatini applied for a job as city attorney for the town of Milton, Florida, and was unanimously rejected by its City Council even after Sabatini offered to work for a heavily discounted hourly rate.
It’s not known what drew Norris to Anthony Sabatini or whether any research or due diligence was done, or whether the mayor was just being budget conscious. But, it’s reasonable to assume that the judge presiding over the mayor’s lawsuit is aware of Sabatini’s reputation, his frivolous case filing history and past unfavorable and critical judicial rulings. And that may bode well for the city's defense, which seems to be fairly strong so far on its own, irrespective of the mayor’s rather strange choice of legal representation.
Bob Gordon
Palm Coast
