Springfield City Council members are considering an ordinance to retain an attorney to defend itself in a lawsuit involving a romance that didn’t work out.
Corporation Counsel Todd Greenburg says police officer Jeff Barr has asked that police union counsel Ronald Stone defend him in the case where ex-officer Scott Allin alleges Barr and Allin’s ex-girlfriend, Patricia Baskett, illegally seized Allin’s motorcycle.
Stone, who frequently represents the police union in cases against the city, was put on retainer earlier this year at $25,000 — one dollar below the level that triggers city council review.
Greenburg says it better his office not take on the case.
“Both the city of Springfield and the police officer are defendants in this case,” says Greenburg. “Without saying this is the probability this would happen, there is the potential there could be a conflict of legal defenses.”
Stone and his law firm will be paid $190 an hour to defend the city in court although fees to other outside attorneys have been around $125 an hour. Greenburg says it is a judgment call.
Aldermen could vote on the measure next week.