"Cahill’s legal costs soaring; He and lottery head fight suit on bid dispute" by Frank Phillips and Walter V. Robinson, Globe Staff | Globe Correspondent | December 18, 2009
State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill and his lottery director have racked up $393,000 in publicly funded legal costs over the last seven months and are on track to spend another $500,000 as they use two elite law firms to defend themselves in a lawsuit accusing them of rigging contracts in exchange for campaign donations.
Doesn't the STATE have TONS of ATTORNEYS?!!!
Can't he USE ONE OF THEM?!
I mean, we are ALREADY PAYING FOR THEM!!!
Though state officials at times rely on outside counsel in litigation, the legal expenses in this case, for nine attorneys working at premium hourly rates, appear to be unusually high and could climb to more than $1 million if the dispute endures without an out-of-court settlement....
As this state is bleeding red ink!
Forget being governor, Tim!
************
The issue of Cahill’s legal bills comes as the Legislature wrestles with its own large legal bills, which taxpayers are also funding. The House has been embroiled in a controversy over $378,000 that it has paid so far to a Boston firm for representing the chamber in the federal investigation of former speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi. Bending to demands from his colleagues, Speaker Robert A. DeLeo agreed to hire a private attorney or auditor to review the bills.
Also see: A Surreptitious State House
Cahill, who oversees the lottery, decided on one week’s notice to give the legal work to two politically connected law firms: Mintz Levin, which has done millions of dollars of bond work for the treasurer’s office, and former attorney general Scott Harshbarger and his firm, Proskauer Rose LLP.
It's called REWARDING your FRIENDS with TAX LOOT to defend you from a KICKBACKS CASE!!
Four lawyers at Proskauer Rose have represented Cahill, including Harshbarger, charging $500 an hour. Cavanagh has used a five-member legal team from Mintz Levin at $484 an hour.
Those rates fall in the top range for Boston law firms. The secretary of state’s securities division paid $300 an hour for a Boston firm, Sloane & Walsh, to represent it in court appearances on a case related to convicted swindler Bernard Madoff. It cost the taxpayers $45,265....
Even if you were not a *ew or invested your money with that crook you get stuck, 'murkn!!!
In fact, you can also forget about being treasurer next time around!
"Cahill promises suit to recoup hefty legal fees; Case motivated by politics, he says" by Frank Phillips, Globe Staff | December 19, 2009
That is what is known as the political backpeddle.
State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill defended spending $393,000 in public money on private lawyers to defend him and his lottery director against a $20 million federal lawsuit, saying yesterday that the legal help is protecting taxpayers.
Unreal!
Is delusion a quality needed for public office, or.... ?
Cahill said that he expects to win the lawsuit, filed by the Rhode Island gaming firm Bingo Innovative Software, and that he intends to sue the company to recover legal costs....
Yeah, so IF he LOSES, you are OUT the $$$, Mass. taxpayers.
And IF he wins, well, he will then have to SPEND MORE of YOUR MONEY to SUE!!
Couldn't you JUST HAVE BEEN HONEST in your dealings in the FIRST PLACE, Mr. Money Manager?
“We expect to save the taxpayers of the state of Massachusetts $20 million,’’ Cahill said in a statement released by his political aides. “After we defend this frivolous lawsuit, we will go after Bingo Innovative to recoup our legal fees.’’
By defending himself against a corruption charge that should never even be an issue and then spending more of your money to maybe win another suit.
You start wondering if this treasurer can count anything except dollars going into his pockets!
The Globe reported yesterday that the cost of the case, originally budgeted for $300,000, had grown significantly, with another $500,000 expected in payments to the Mintz Levin and Proskauer Rose law firms. The firms are using up to nine lawyers, working at premium rates of about $500 an hour, to litigate the case, which is in its preliminary stages.
Not doing a very good job there!
Cahill and his aides have attributed the large legal fees to a decision by Attorney General Martha Coakley not to represent them in the case; Coakley opted out because of potential conflicts of interest, given that other state investigations of Cahill’s activities were underway and could have been referred to her office. A Coakley spokeswoman said her office would have no comment.
And now she is going to be a senator.
Cahill declined requests from the Globe for an interview, but told State House News Service, “I’m not going to turn my back on the taxpayers just because I’m running for governor.’’
No, he's going to loot you right in front of your eyes.
The legal spending came under fire yesterday from a Republican gubernatorial rival, Charles D. Baker, who called on Cahill to reimburse the state treasury for the fees....
Related: Patty Cake, Patty Cake, Baker's Man....
Seems to be a pattern with DemocraPs, huh?
Also see: The Perils of One-Party Politics: The Problem
Yeah, we need him now!
“After Massachusetts taxpayers have been hit with higher taxes and unbridled spending by the Patrick administration, Treasurer Cahill is adding insult to injury by forcing taxpayers to pay the tab for defending him against pay-to-play charges,’’ Baker said in a statement.
Of course, he is SAVING US MONEY!!!
“Something is seriously wrong’’ when political leaders believe it is acceptable to have taxpayers foot the bill for such legal defenses, Baker said. “We need a change in leadership right now.’’
I agree!
Cahill said Baker had no standing to criticize him, adding that the GOP candidate and his running mate, state Senate minority leader Richard R. Tisei, had been part of the Republican oversight of the Central Artery Project, which ran billions over budget.
That's the best you can do, huh?
Related: Massachusetts Residents Taken For a Ride on the T
Excuse me?
Also see: Baker's Mate
Yup, that's my team!
“It’s ironic that Baker and Tisei, who oversaw the Big Dig, are criticizing someone else for wasting taxpayer dollars,’’ Cahill said in his statement....
????
Legislature was always Democrat here!
So when you up for election again, Timmy?
Related: State Lottery a Loser For Mass. Residents
The One-Armed Bandit of Massachusetts
Cahill the Corrupt
Scientific Games Gets Back Scratched By State Treasurer
The Lying Looter at the State Lottery
Yeah, more change needed.
