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Prattville council authorizes contingency-fee legal team to pursue claims over fire-truck purchases
Summary
The Prattville City Council approved a contingency-fee contract with outside counsel to investigate and pursue claims against fire-truck manufacturers and related entities, with attorneys to be paid 33.33% of gross recoveries and no upfront cost to the city. One councilor abstained because of an employment connection to a fire-equipment distributor.
The Prattville City Council authorized the mayor to sign contingency-fee agreements with Riley & Jackson, P.C. and NSPR Law Services LLC to represent the city in litigation and related investigation of alleged anticompetitive conduct involving fire-truck manufacturers, trade associations and executives.
City staff described the potential claims as complex litigation that could involve depositions in multiple states. The contract specifies that the firms’ fees will be 33.33% of gross fees recovered; the mayor’s office and the city attorney said there is no out-of-pocket cost to the city unless the firms recover money.
Councilor Newman introduced the resolution and it was seconded; the city attorney explained the firms assisted the city on prior opioid litigation and would provide litigation support in a class-action–style matter. During discussion the attorney emphasized the contingency structure and the need for specialized, “boots on the ground” litigation resources.
A councilor stated on the record that they would abstain from the vote because they work for a fire-equipment distributor (the speaker described the employer as Sunbelt Fire Equipment) and said that distributor is a partner of a company that sells fire trucks; the abstention was offered to avoid a conflict of interest. The resolution was adopted.
Next steps: the mayor was authorized to execute documents necessary to effect the retention; the city did not set a schedule for filings or further public briefings at the meeting.
