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FAST FACTS:
(Memphis, 7/7/2009) It's the investigation that sparked calls for a review of spending by the chairman of Memphis City Council.
Tonight, the WREG News Channel 3 Investigators have dug deeper into the $8 million dollars spent, by the city, on outside legal fees.
According to records obtained from the city attorney's office, 22 different law firms, consultants and lobbyists split the $8 million pie.
City attorney Elbert Jefferson, and Mayor Willie Herenton aren't speaking publicly about the spending, but two of the attorneys on the list are.
the city attorney, and the mayor...they're not talking about what we found.
but tonight, two of the lawyers on the list are.
"We work hard for the city," insisted attorney Ricky Wilkins. "We produce great value for the city. We earn the respect and the trust of the city, and, yes, we do get paid accordingly."
According to the city attorney's office, Wilkins billed taxpayers more than $1.6 million dollars over the last four years.
His $823,000 in legal fees accrued in the first 353 days of fiscal year 2009, average out to more than $2,300 a day in billing to the city.
Wilkins, a friend of Mayor Willie Herenton's, is just one of several familiar names around city hall, who have cashed-in on contracts with the city's legal department.
Also on the list, attorney Charles Carpenter, who is Herenton's long-time campaign manager.
Carpenter billed just over $60,000 in services during the last four budget years.
Longtime city council attorney Allan Wade, who also represents the City of Memphis in its funding fight with Memphis City Schools, collected more than $790, 000 in outside legal fees during the same time period.
"I stand on my record," explained Wade. "If you look at the cases that I've handled in the past 17 years, you would find one common denominator, that is victory."
In addition to his outside services to the city, Wade also makes about $85,000 a year as a part time city attorney, representing council.
He says while the numbers may seem big on paper, Wade points out the billing figures include so-called "pass-through" dollars. wade points out, those billing figures include so-called pass-through dollars.
- Attorneys defend legal fees charged to city
- On Your Side Investigation shows City of Memphis paid $7.99 million in outside legal fees over the last four years
- City council chairman calls for an investigation into spending
(Memphis, 7/7/2009) It's the investigation that sparked calls for a review of spending by the chairman of Memphis City Council.
Tonight, the WREG News Channel 3 Investigators have dug deeper into the $8 million dollars spent, by the city, on outside legal fees.
According to records obtained from the city attorney's office, 22 different law firms, consultants and lobbyists split the $8 million pie.
City attorney Elbert Jefferson, and Mayor Willie Herenton aren't speaking publicly about the spending, but two of the attorneys on the list are.
the city attorney, and the mayor...they're not talking about what we found.
but tonight, two of the lawyers on the list are.
"We work hard for the city," insisted attorney Ricky Wilkins. "We produce great value for the city. We earn the respect and the trust of the city, and, yes, we do get paid accordingly."
According to the city attorney's office, Wilkins billed taxpayers more than $1.6 million dollars over the last four years.
His $823,000 in legal fees accrued in the first 353 days of fiscal year 2009, average out to more than $2,300 a day in billing to the city.
Wilkins, a friend of Mayor Willie Herenton's, is just one of several familiar names around city hall, who have cashed-in on contracts with the city's legal department.
Also on the list, attorney Charles Carpenter, who is Herenton's long-time campaign manager.
Carpenter billed just over $60,000 in services during the last four budget years.
Longtime city council attorney Allan Wade, who also represents the City of Memphis in its funding fight with Memphis City Schools, collected more than $790, 000 in outside legal fees during the same time period.
"I stand on my record," explained Wade. "If you look at the cases that I've handled in the past 17 years, you would find one common denominator, that is victory."
In addition to his outside services to the city, Wade also makes about $85,000 a year as a part time city attorney, representing council.
He says while the numbers may seem big on paper, Wade points out the billing figures include so-called "pass-through" dollars. wade points out, those billing figures include so-called pass-through dollars.
