A symbol of Christmas joy has turned into a nearly half-million-dollar legal bill for Plantation taxpayers.
The city last year lost its lawsuit against a couple over a massive Christmas display, but its legal fees amounted to as much as $450,000.
Now, some city leaders want to know why their attorneys’ bills went without greater scrutiny after a failed attempt to shut down Mark and Kathy Hyatt’s annual display.
Plantation Councilman Jerry Fadgen wants an outside attorney to review the bills presented by City Attorney Don Lunny and his firm, Brinkley Morgan. Although most charges were specific about the attorneys’ work, Fadgen said some entries were so vague they need further explanation.
Among the invoices:
- Feb. 26, 2014: One entry only states that an attorney did “work on case” for an hour. The cost: $260.
- May 28, 2014: “Continue work on matter and preparation of responding in case.” Cost for an hour and a half of work: $300.
- July 16, 2014: “Review status and consider future action.” The cost for 12 minutes of work: $52
Councilwoman Lynn Stoner agreed that the bills need more scrutiny.
“I think we owe it to our taxpayers who had to foot $450,000,” Stoner said.
Fadgen said he was urged to look into the matter by Plantation resident Sam Fields, an attorney who took it upon himself to review 138 pages of bills from February 2014 to March 2017. In turn, Fadgen asked that City Hall also provide him copies of the bills.
More details must be included in invoices, such as “what was the case law and what was the purpose,” Fields told the City Council on Wednesday night. “How can someone not ask questions? … It’s a lot of money to fight about a Christmas tree.”