PAYOUT FLAP FUELS COUNCIL-LAWYER ESTRANGEMENT.Byline: KERRY CAVANAUGH and RICK ORLOV Staff Writers A rift between the City Council and City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo Rockard John "Rocky" Delgadillo (born July 15 1960) is the current City Attorney of Los Angeles, California. Career
Ever since they approved the record settlement for Tennie Pierce on Nov. 8 at the recommendation of Delgadillo's office, the City Council has been lambasted by voters, talk radio hosts and others who question paying millions of dollars for what they said amounted to a typical firehouse prank. The fury grew after firefighters made public photographs of Pierce engaging in hazing and horseplay horse·play n. Rowdy or rough play. horseplay Noun rough or rowdy play Noun 1. himself. Some council members immediately pointed fingers at Delgadillo's office for failing to share the evidence of Pierce's hazing with them before they endorsed the payout. Had they known of Pierce's pranks, many council members said, they wouldn't have agreed to the $2.7 million payout, which Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Antonio Ramon Villaraigosa (born Antonio (Tony) Ramon Villar, Jr. on January 23, 1953) is the mayor of Los Angeles, California. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since Cristobal Aguilar in 1872. later vetoed. This week, Delgadillo's team pointed right back, with a memo sent to the council -- and local news media -- saying the office was ``disappointed'' with the council members' criticism. And in a rare request, Chief Deputy City Attorney Richard Llewellyn Richard Llewellyn (real name Richard David Vivian Llewellyn Lloyd) (December 8, 1906 - November 30, 1983) was a British novelist. Born in Hendon, London in 1906. Only after his death was it discovered that his claim to be born in St. Jr. asked the City Council to waive attorney-client privilege In the law of evidence, a client's privilege to refuse to disclose, and to prevent any other person from disclosing, confidential communications between the client and his or her attorney. so his office could set the record straight and speak publicly about what information the council was provided on Pierce's hazing history. ``The City Attorney's Office appeared before the full council twice, the Budget and Finance Committee twice, and the Claims Board twice. And on each occasion, council members were provided with any and all information they requested,'' said Nick Velasquez, Delgadillo's spokesman. Council members Greig Smith Greig Smith is a Los Angeles City Councilman, representing the 12th District, which includes Granada Hills, Northridge and other parts of the Western San Fernando Valley. Smith is also a reserve officer for the Los Angeles Police Department. , Jack Weiss Jack Weiss, is a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 5th district. Weiss was elected in 2001 and reelected in 2005. The 5th district includes parts of the Westside and the San Fernando Valley. and Eric Garcetti Eric Garcetti (born 1971) is the son of former Los Angeles county district attorney Gil Garcetti, and was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001. He was reelected in 2005. shot back Wednesday with their own letter requesting all Pierce photos and a timeline of when they became available. ``I want to see this information out because I have a lot of questions about what the city attorney knew and when he knew it,'' said Smith, whose staff members have received dog kibble kibble baked dough that is crushed or cracked. Prepared usually by extruding and then heating-drying the dough. Used as dry food for dogs and cats. and cans of dog food from angry constituents. It's not the first tiff between the city and the city attorney. Earlier this year, council members decided to hire their own legal adviser when it became concerned that Delgadillo's office was not adequately addressing their concerns or providing timely, thorough legal advice. ``The mayor has his own attorney; the council has its own attorney. I think that sheds some light on the level of confidence in the city attorney,'' said Councilman Dennis Zine, who cast the lone no vote on the Pierce settlement and has criticized the city attorney for being too willing to settle similar cases. Nevertheless, the council is expected to meet with the city attorney again Tuesday to reconsider the Pierce settlement. Also, the council voted this week to approve another firefighter settlement. This one was for $350,000 for Capt. Gary Mellinger, who said he suffered age discrimination and retaliation for complaining about bad behavior. kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com (213) 978-0390 |
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