Verdict reached in trial for Florida lawmaker accused of sexual harassment

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - The jury reached a verdict Wednesday afternoon in the civil trial for Florida House Rep. Fabian Basabe, accused of sexual harassment, battery and defamation.

After about two hours of deliberation, the jury found Basabe liable for sexual harassment and defamation.

He is liable for a total of $450,000 in damages.

Basabe rested his case Wednesday morning without calling any witnesses. The Florida lawmaker represented himself in the trial. During Wednesday morning’s court proceedings, Basabe was reprimanded by Judge Lee Marsh for violating court orders multiple times.

Judge Marsh told Basabe that his actions “unlawfully tainted the jury.” Basabe was given four court violations.

“This is not an election, sir. This is a court of law,” Judge Marsh said. “We talked about this before we started that we’re trying this case in a court of law.”

Wednesday afternoon, Basabe moved for a directed verdict, essentially asking the judge to throw out the case. Judge Marsh denied the motion.

Basabe, who claims he did not mean to close his case when he did, did not move to re-open his case before closing arguments.

Judge Marsh also found Basabe violated his rulings again, leading plaintiffs to ask the judge to order Basabe be found liable by default and tell the jury this is now only about damages.

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