Legal Bills

[Editor]

Hackensack sets ceiling on legal billing as step in controlling finances
Wednesday February 19, 2014, 10:37 PM
BY  HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER
The Record

HACKENSACK — The City Council has capped pay for the city attorney at $15,000 per month for six months in a measure that officials say will help them monitor and control legal costs.

The council approved the revised pay cap in a resolution Wednesday amid criticism that the city had paid more than $200,000 to the city attorney in six months  — and that it had asked a citizen for $450 for a records request for two months of attorney bills.

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[Editor]

Hackensack attorney stays on job in spite of criticism over legal costs
August 6, 2014    Last updated: Wednesday, August 6, 2014, 1:21 AM
By HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER
The Record

HACKENSACK — The City Council made few changes in its annual review of contracts with lawyers, insurers and auditors after a tumultuous year that saw the ouster of two city managers and a public relations consultant.

Council members chose to keep the city attorney, Thomas Scrivo of the law firm McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, despite previous complaints about legal bills that topped $200,000 in six months.

In response to concerns, the council capped pay for the city attorney at $15,000 a month in February — a cap that will continue under the renewed contract. Early costs were high because of work needed to review and fix business practices and because of numerous lawsuits from the previous administration, said Councilwoman Kathy Canestrino.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/hackensack-rehires-city-attorney-1.1062798