Fort Pierce city commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to reject a settlement offer from Kevin Keene, who is suing the city over its handling of Little Jim's Bait & Tackle restaurant. The rejection means more taxpayer dollars will likely go toward defending the case. City Commissioner Michael Broderick said the settlement wasn't practical, particularly a provision that would have required taxpayers to vote on future waterfront land decisions. Broderick said the lawsuit doesn't have merit but acknowledged controversies mentioned in the lawsuit, which allege a broader pattern of defective administration of city waterfront properties.
The Little Jim's case is at least the fourth waterfront property dispute and the second to result in a lawsuit. In 2023, King's Landing developer Dale Matteson threatened legal action after claiming the city sold him buildable land filled with old power plant concrete. In 2024, Fisherman's Wharf developer Chris Shelli filed suit after state records showed the city promised property it didn't own. In 2025, the city abruptly canceled the bidding process for Little Jim's amid public outcry, prompting Keene's lawsuit. This year, the city became responsible for nearly $200,000 in unpaid rent tied to Crabby's Waterfront Restaurant. Broderick said the problem is not poor management but a lack of management. The city is creating a new real estate management position to track leases, rent payments, and waterfront properties.