A county union has moved to recover legal costs from San Bernardino County after the judge hearing a lawsuit filed by the county encouraged them to do so.
A lawsuit filed against the San Bernardino County Public Attorney’s Association by the County, at the recommendation of County Counsel Ruth Stringer and Public Defender Doreen Boxer, was dismissed a few months ago.
At that time the judge in the case, Christopher Warner, expressed his displeasure at the county for bringing such a ridiculous action.
Warner encouraged the union to seek recovery of its cost to defend the matter. The union has now taken the judge up on his suggestion to the tune of about $80,000.
Yes, $80,000. But who cares it’s taxpayer money after all. Isn’t it? This is the commonplace attitude with the county, especially Stringer, who never has a problem pissing taxpayer money down the toilet on frivolous half-baked legal theory.
If memory serves me correctly in the instant case, the county was attempting to dictate to the union, who it could use to represent its members in grievances and disciplinary actions.
The county was telling the union it can’t use its Deputy District Attorney members as union representatives in assisting its Deputy Public Defender members.
Can you say hysterical?
With county supervisors in a permanent part-time mode and routinely in hiding, expect the lack of accountability within the organization to continue.
There is legal filings on the case in a story at iepolitics.com.
I encourage you to take a look.
Take it out of Boxer and Ferguson’s salary. They initiated this lawsuit so let them pay. WHy do I, as a taxpaying member of this County, have to subsidize such incompetence?
Let’s see, $80000/ 100 bucks an hour (Ruthie’s hourly don’t you know) = 800 hours of accrued “I’m so valuable time”. How ’bout we just debit her account the difference and call it even?
Stringer the Incompetent has cost the county untold millions in bad legal advice. She and those who keep her on should be fired! Crooks all.
I think it is time to send all three of them packing. Take the $80,000 from their golden handshake.
Isn’t the Public Defender supposed to lead her attorneys? Inspire them to fight on? No wonder this agency is in shambles. It head is attacking her own staff. For a woman who demands perfection in everyone else, this woman manages to “screw” up just about everything. Hopefully, she will be replaced. The next Public Defender should be an attorney with extensive criminal law experience but the CAO might consider hiring a MBA/JD type for the assistant position.That person could handle the budget and personnel matters. A competent manager does more than check time cards. The manager recognizes talent, develops talent and tries to place staff in positions which maximize his/her talents. Ms. Boxer et al do not fit the bill. This mean spirited lawsuit will end up costing the COunty money it cannot afford to spend. The agency head should have spend her time developing the attorneys under her rather than trying to destroy them.