BOARD WILL PAY SHERIFF'S LEGAL TAB.Byline: Grace Lee Staff Writer VENTURA - Sheriff Bob Brooks won a round Tuesday in his plan to sue Ventura County supervisors for a bigger share of county funds as the supervisors grudgingly grudg·ing adj. Reluctant; unwilling. grudg  ing·ly adv.Adv. 1. approved paying for his lawyer. The unanimous vote came after a Ventura Superior Court judge ruled that while the board could choose which law firm to hire, the supervisors had to pay for outside lawyers to represent the sheriff. Before voting, Supervisor Linda Parks For the DC Comics character, see . Linda Park (born July 9, 1978) is a Korean American actress who is best known for her portrayal of communications officer character Hoshi Sato in the television series . questioned whether board members would be in contempt of court if they declined to approve the funding. ``This really goes against the grain. ... We don't have the authority now to decline to fund the firm that is suing us.'' Board Chairwoman Judy Mikels said it is worth taxpayer money to resolve the funding conflicts. Money from the sheriff's and district attorney's general fund will pay for the $215-an-hour attorney's fees attorney's fee n. the payment for legal services. It can take several forms: 1) hourly charge, 2) flat fee for the performance of a particular service (like $250 to write a will), 3) contingent fee (such as one-third of the gross recovery, and nothing if there is no accrued ac·crue v. ac·crued, ac·cru·ing, ac·crues v.intr. 1. To come to one as a gain, addition, or increment: interest accruing in my savings account. 2. since November 2002. Sheriff Bob Brooks seeks to force the county to allocate about $10 million more in funding for the department. The contract approved Tuesday focuses the suit on whether the board broke the law by changing the way it funds public safety. William Hair, the lawyer for the sheriff and district attorney, refused to say how much his legal counsel had cost the taxpayers so far. The total cost will be public ``when the bills are submitted and approved,'' he said. Brooks and County Executive Officer Johnny Johnston reached a compromise for the coming fiscal year to stave off stave n. 1. A narrow strip of wood forming part of the sides of a barrel, tub, or similar structure. 2. A rung of a ladder or chair. 3. A staff or cudgel. 4. Music See staff1. job cuts in the Sheriff's Department. A one-time allocation of $6.8 million for the two departments would forestall fore·stall tr.v. fore·stalled, fore·stall·ing, fore·stalls 1. To delay, hinder, or prevent by taking precautionary measures beforehand. See Synonyms at prevent. 2. the layoffs of about 70 deputies and other personnel. But Johnston and Brooks have agreed the only way to determine long-term allocations would have to be determined in the courts. |
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