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Costa Mesa council approves higher hourly rate for outside law firm amid public criticism of litigation costs
Summary
The City Council approved an amendment increasing Everett Dorey LLP's hourly rate; the move followed public criticism over litigation spending. Council approved the change 6-0 after debate about city legal strategy and outside counsel's role in long-running litigation.
The Costa Mesa City Council on Oct. 7 approved an amendment increasing the hourly rate paid to outside counsel Everett Dorey LLP, a firm that has represented the city in several high-profile land-use and group-home cases. The council vote was 6-0.
The item drew heated public comment before the vote. Jim Fitzpatrick, a resident, asked the council to audit litigation spending and faulted the firm’s tactics and billing as drivers of high legal costs. “Our litigation costs are out of control,” Fitzpatrick told the council and urged…
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