BREAKING: Disgraced City Attorney Isn’t the Only One Suing: Former Building Official Raj Ramsingh Takes City to Federal Court

Federal §1983 case over self-issued, overbuilt renovations at 2827 Harris Ave. runs parallel to Planning Board fight and deepening grand-jury probe.

Disgraced former City Attorney Ron Ramsingh isn’t the only one suing his former employer.

His brother, Rajindhar “Raj” Ramsingh, the city’s onetime Chief Building Official, has filed a federal civil-rights complaint alongside his wife Deborah Ramsingh, alleging the city unlawfully revoked the Certificate of Occupancy for their home at 2827 Harris Avenue after discovering self-issued, overbuilt renovations that violated city code.

The complaint, filed June 26, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida as Case No. 4:25-cv-10053, accuses City Manager Brian Barroso and Chief Building Official Ron Wampler of violating the Ramsinghs’ due-process rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by revoking the occupancy certificate “without notice or hearing.”

Multiple sources inside 1300 White Street tell Above the Fold that city staff never briefed or alerted commissioners that the lawsuit had been filed or that the City was paying for the officials’ defense — a revelation that has added to concerns about transparency in the aftermath of the City Hall corruption scandal.

Although the City of Key West is not a named defendant, its attorneys have appeared on behalf of both officials and filed a motion to dismiss citing qualified immunity — the doctrine shielding public officials from personal liability when performing discretionary duties.

City records show Barroso’s employment contract includes an indemnification clause, while Wampler, who succeeded Ramsingh as building chief, is being defended at the city’s discretion.

The 2827 Harris Ave. property remains under active review by the Planning Board, where the Ramsinghs are seeking after-the-fact variances to legalize the same construction now at the heart of both the criminal and federal cases.

From Regulator to Litigant

At the center of the controversy are permits Ramsingh issued and approved for himself during his tenure overseeing the Building Department. Investigators say the former official used his position to push through plans that exceeded allowable lot-coverage and setback limits, effectively green-lighting work that would have been denied to any ordinary applicant.

Once those approvals came under scrutiny, the City revoked the Certificate of Occupancy, citing safety and code violations. Ramsingh now claims the city violated his constitutional rights in doing so.

The Planning Department’s staff report, released ahead of the board’s next regular meeting, recommends denial of the Ramsinghs’ variance application, warning that approval would “set a troubling precedent” by legitimizing unpermitted, self-approved construction.

In recent weeks, controversial commercial planner Owen Trepanier has appeared on the couple’s behalf, arguing that the project should be grandfathered or granted relief. His advocacy has become part of a growing storm: sources close to the state investigation confirm that a Monroe County grand jury has widened its inquiry to examine Trepanier’s role in several Ramsingh-connected projects that may have benefited from improper approvals.

The Bubba Bozo Trio

The “Bubba Bozo Trio” Scandal

Raj Ramsingh’s legal troubles trace back to the broader City Hall corruption scandal that locals call the “Bubba Bozo Trio” — a reference to Raj Ramsingh, his brother Ron Ramsingh, and former Code Enforcement Director Jim Young.

Prosecutors allege that Raj Ramsingh, while Chief Building Official, manipulated permit records, concealed violations, and steered inspections to favored contractors — and, ultimately, himself. He has been indicted on multiple felony counts of official misconduct and conspiracy related to falsifying and concealing building-permit information.

Ron Ramsingh, the city’s former attorney, faces three felony counts in a separate case for tampering with evidence and illegally intercepting communications, while Young has been charged with falsification of records. All three have pleaded not guilty.

City’s Legal Exposure

While not a defendant in the federal suit, the City of Key West is paying to defend Barroso and Wampler. Its motion to dismiss argues the revocation of the Certificate of Occupancy was a lawful enforcement action, undertaken in response to clear violations of the building code.

Barroso’s indemnification clause requires the city to provide counsel; Wampler’s defense was approved by policy. Officials insist this arrangement complies with Florida Statute 111.07, which authorizes municipal legal protection for employees acting in good faith.

The twin proceedings — Raj Ramsingh’s criminal case in state court and his civil-rights lawsuit in federal court — underscore a painful irony for a city still struggling to restore public trust after years of insider self-dealing.

CASE DETAILS

Title: Rajindhar Ramsingh & Deborah Ramsingh v. Brian Barroso & Ron Wampler

Court: U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

Case No.: 4:25-cv-10053

Filed: June 26, 2025 — Before U.S. District Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Bir

Defendants: Brian Barroso (City Manager) and Ron Wampler (Chief Building Official)

Legal Issue: Revocation of Certificate of Occupancy for home at 2827 Harris Ave. following self-issued and overbuilt renovations; City motion to dismiss based on qualified immunity

Related Local Action: After-the-fact variance request set for Planning Board hearing; city staff recommends denial; planner Owen Trepanier arguing for approval; grand jury reportedly reviewing his role in Ramsingh-linked projects

This is an evolving story. Watch this space.