A Miami-Dade County judge has dismissed a lawsuit against former Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who was accused of attempting to pressure a lobbyist to provide financial benefits to an associate in a marina development deal.

Judge Mavel Ruiz issued the ruling in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court on June 27, finding that the complaint filed by lobbyist Manuel Prieguez should be dismissed on the basis that Portilla – as an elected Miami official – had legislative and qualified immunity when the alleged incidents happened.

The lawsuit claimed that Portilla had arranged the canceling of a request for proposal (RFP) after Prieguez and a client of his, Aabad Melwani, president of Rickenbacker Marina, rebuffed Portilla’s push to have an associate partner with Melwani in the marina development.