With second law firm, state’s bill for private lawyers in chef’s case hits $244,000

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Thu Sep 12, 2013, 09:51 AM - Edit history (1)

With second law firm, state’s bill for private lawyers in chef’s case hits $244,000
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/with-second-law-firm-states-bill-for-private-lawyers-in-chefs-case-hits-244000/2013/09/11/9d03437a-1b2e-11e3-8685-5021e0c41964_story.html

Wait, did I say $90,000? My bad.

Private lawyers bill Va. $90,000 more to represent McDonnell, staff in chef-theft case
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/private-lawyers-bill-state-90000-more-%20to-represent-mcdonnell-office-in-chef-case/2013/09/04/ffea10d0-15c1-11e3-be6e-dc6ae8a5b3a8_story.html

By Laura Vozzella, E-mail the writer

RICHMOND — The state has hired a second law firm to represent employees in the embezzlement case against former Executive Mansion chef Todd Schneider, billing taxpayers nearly $100,000 for work performed in July.

Those charges are in addition to the $144,000 that Richmond’s Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott has charged so far for representing Gov. Robert F. McDonnell and his staff.

The new firm, Baker & McKenzie, began work in July and has billed the state $100,000 for that month, charging rates up to $495 an hour. Eckert Seamans bills the state up to $250 an hour.
....

The state-funded legal services are separate from the criminal defense work that another private legal team is providing to McDonnell. A legal defense fund has been set up to pay those bills.

[riversedge]

1. It is immoral that taxpayers should have to pay for this!