ONLY $250,000.00?

So the Daily Pilot has an article regarding how much the City of Newport Beach has spent for legal fees to fend off its own Residents and the Rehab Homes.

$231k SINCE NOVEMBER.

THAT'S $46,200 A MONTH.

No win for the City.

Their already $1 million dollar City Attorney's office has another $500k budgeted for outside legal services for the next fiscal year. That's $1.5 million for the rehab home issue for the next fiscal year.

No win for the Resident's Group.

They've spend $250,000 out of their own pockets to sue the City. They'll continue to spend more to watch their lawsuit go through the process.

No win for the Rehab Homes (well...actually win-win for the Rehab Homes - if their lawsuit wins, they get more Rehab Homes in Newport. If they lose, they still collect $10k to $20k per bed, per month on the 6 beds per rehab homes which will be licensed to FILL the Balboa Peninsula).

The real winners here?

You got it.

James Markman of Richards Watson and Gershon (the City's outside attorneys)

Michael Tidus of Jackson DeMarco Tidus Petersen Peckenpaugh (the Residents Group's attorney)

James Markman has been billing almost $50 grand a month, with another $500 grand to come in the NEXT fiscal year, mind you how more will be spent in THIS fiscal year.

After all the lawsuit rubble subsides.

After all the hard feelings.

These lawyers will still get paid.

I knew I should have gone to law school...