Magistrate reduces business-tax delinquency order for Shops of Cooper City tenant to $405

Special Magistrate Scott Klein on March 5 amended a prior order in a business-tax delinquency case involving Shops of Cooper City and reduced the assessed civil penalty for the tenant at 12161 Sheridan Street to $405.

The respondent, identified in the record as Omer Ahmed, told the magistrate he had applied for a reduction of the fine and that the property manager for the shopping center was Michael Cavalli. Inspector testimony indicated the center owner is ultimately responsible for the tax status of the property but that tenant responsibility under lease terms could apply.

Klein said he would "enter an amended order reducing the fine to $15 a day, which will afford you basically about a 95% reduction" and later confirmed the amended total: "So we're gonna reduce this to $405. You'll get an order in the mail and you'll have 30 days in which to pay it." The magistrate added that if the fine is not paid within 30 days it will be certified without further hearing.

The inspector reported the violation lasted 27 days and city staff confirmed the matter was in compliance as of February 2025. The magistrate gave the respondent the option to pay immediately at the clerk's window; staff instructed the respondent to return the paid receipt to the magistrate's clerk to close the file on the docket.

Klein placed the reduced amount and the 30-day payment deadline on the record; the magistrate ordered that, if unpaid after 30 days, the fine will be certified as provided under city procedure.