Look in the Dictionary Under Dysfunctional and You Will Find This
Taxpayers in Maricopa County (which includes Phoenix) are paying millions of dollars for officials within the county government to sue each other:
Lawsuits between county agencies including the Sheriff's Office, the County Attorney's Office and the Treasurer's Office against county administration have cost more than $2.5 million in legal fees according to the county's records through early November.
The Sheriff's Office has used attorneys from Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart to wage legal battles with the county on issues including control of a law-enforcement computer system and the need to release surveillance footage of sheriff's deputies arresting Supervisor Don Stapley
in a county parking garage.
Next year, the Sheriff's office has asked for $7 million for this purpose. Wow. Given that I despise Sheriff Arpaio, I would love to lay this all at his door step but my sense is that the dysfunctionality goes broader and deeper.
Jeffrey Ellis:
What was it that Alexander Tyler said? A democracy can only exist as a permanent form of government until the lawyers find out they can sue money from the public treasury?
December 7, 2009, 1:08 pmPaul:
Someone needs to follow the money. Who are the lawyers being hired? Do these lawyers make any campaign contributions?
December 8, 2009, 12:00 am