March 9, 2009
... Is Someone Looking for Solicitor Williamson's Legal Fees?
Here they are.
2004
Budgeted for "Administration": $100,000
Paid to Inman & Tourgee: $163,387
2005
Budgeted for "Administration": $70,000
Paid to Inman & Tourgee: $135,044
2006
Budgeted for "Administration": $70,000
Paid to Inman & Tourgee: $150,227
2007
Budgeted for "Administration": $75,000
Paid to Inman & Tourgee: $120,327
2008
Budgeted for "Administration": $75,000
Paid to Inman & Tourgee: $169,174
[Article in today's ProJo.]
Soemone doesn't know the meaning of the "budget"
Posted by: john at March 9, 2009 8:52 AMWow! That's a lot of (taxpayer) dough!
Kudos to Michael Pinga for calling attention to this one.
Posted by: Frank at March 9, 2009 9:04 AMThat is 89.2% over budget. Town budgeted $390,000 and paid $738,159.
Let me see if I can play devil's advocate for a moment. But believe me, there are very few people who are bigger Williamson detractors than me. I have no use for the man.
1. Is this standard in many towns to go over their legal counsel budget?
2. What should a town do once they reach their budget and they need legal representation? Just walk away and default?
3. What would have been the cost of no or lesser representation? Did these costs actually save the town money from "frivolous" lawsuits? I mean if someone is suing you for a million dollars but you can win the case for $100k, even if that puts you over budget, what is the smarter course of action?
4. Maybe the problem is with bad budgeting at the town council level.
5. Who's fault is the oversight? If any hours billed were not appropriate, shouldn't the town have refused to pay? And who authorized further work for the firm if the town had a hard cap on their budget line?
OVER BUDGET AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST... TYPICAL RI POLITICS!!!!
Posted by: WILLIS at March 10, 2009 10:38 AMWow, this unbelievable, I would definately be interested to in any follow up on this.
Posted by: Miss T at April 16, 2009 10:30 PM