Isn't the banana lady the one who didn't file the paperwork last time? The city really shows its best side when these things are presented. She still seems to be doing what she wants and should have been fired by the city before.
The judge let it slide that Augusta's internal legal staff showed up 25 minutes late Tuesday but got hot over their reasons for disdaining discovery rules.
U.S. District Judge W. Leon Barfield called Tuesday's hearing a status conference for the federal lawsuit on how the city awards contracts for goods and services. Several business owners and a taxpayer association have accused the city of unfair and illegal purchasing practices, which the city denies.
Plaintiff's attorney Robert Mullins filed several motions recently, complaining that city officials refuse to fully identify potential witnesses, and that city attorneys have blocked him from fully deposing Mayor Deke Copenhaver.
City attorney Andrew Mackenzie countered that the city has cooperated, but Mr. Mullins' request for information about 44 potential witnesses is unreasonable. The city also believes the plaintiffs lack any legitimate reason for questioning the mayor.
"Where under the rules are you allowed to decide what questions the other side can ask?" Judge Barfield asked.
Mr. Mackenzie said the plaintiffs are harassing the mayor with questions about the sequence of events that led to the city's failure to meet its first legal deadline. The questions were already answered, the attorney said.
That, Judge Barfield said, didn't answer his question. He might agree with the city that certain questions are irrelevant, but it's a judge's decision to make, Judge Barfield said.
He ordered the attorneys to let Mr. Mullins finish the mayor's deposition, and ordered them to gather information on potential witnesses that will reduce the requests for additional depositions.
The city's general counsel, Chiquita T. Johnson, complained that the plaintiffs were being purposely obtuse about potential defense witnesses. They are people who deal with the procurement department on a daily basis, she said.
Judge Barfield, who had issued an order regarding those potential witnesses, seemed offended: "Are you actually accusing me of being disingenuous?"
That brought a quick denial from Ms. Johnson, with an explanation that the plaintiffs ask for information in the wrong formats.
Judge Barfield warned Mr. Mullins that federal court rules apply to both sides.
Judge Barfield told the attorneys that he expected a better spirit of cooperation after Tuesday's hearing or he will sanction them personally.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Isn't the banana lady the one who didn't file the paperwork last time? The city really shows its best side when these things are presented. She still seems to be doing what she wants and should have been fired by the city before.
The City does what it wants and awards Contracts to family and friends and this has been happening for years and years, I hope Judege Barfield can put a stop to it. And yes stop the Oh So Wonderful City Counsel.
The City does what it wants and awards Contracts to family and friends and this has been happening for years and years, I hope Judege Barfield can put a stop to it. And yes stop the Oh So Wonderful City Counsel.
The City does what it wants and awards Contracts to family and friends and this has been happening for years and years, I hope Judege Barfield can put a stop to it. And yes stop the Oh So Wonderful City Counsel.
When the suit was first filed, these city "attorneys" didn't know the rules about how and when to file an answer - but the judge let them off the hook. They apparently don't know the rules about when to show up for court or how to handle the case, and insult the judge when he points out their ignorance. Each of those attorneys are earning over $100k a year to bungle the city's legal work. Any fines or fees the Judge awards for their incompetance and arrogance should be taken out of their checks, not from the taxpayers.
The city's legal office has a new shingle by the door " Dewey, Cheatem and Howe"!
Well, with the incompetence shown by both the contracting arm of the city Govt. the administration and their bungling lawyers, It would be a fantastic step if the Judge ruled that the courts were going to "oversee" every contract awarded for the next five years. The court "thru a panel of rotating volunteer experts" would be the "final" approval authority for every awarded contract, no matter the amount of money. Polititions seem to think that they are insulated agains the courts under the auspices of the "city Govt". Hockey-Puck.
Also. The Judge should inform the lawyers that failure to arrive in court on time in the future will resuly in an automatic 72 hour jail time.
The comments by Judge Barfield were barely subtle and perfectly clear to the lawyers. There's no doubt it was a first warning. The next warning, and there will be another, will be more blatant and just as clear. The third warning will carry charges. My guess is that Ms Johnson will be hit with contempt charges, at least.
With this legal defense team the city had better settle the suit fast as they can. The longer this embarrassment of a defense continues the more it is going to cost in a settlement.
The lawyers are in the business of making money, why would we expect then not to delay things as long as possible.
The city complains about the deficits and how not having a tax increase will hurt everyone and yet we waste money every year fighting lawsuits of incompetency. Fire the losers and get some people that know what they are doing and they maybe be able to operate on a tax decrease.
PT, out of all the posts, yours was the one that made more sense. People can save their " Banana " jokes for another article.
All of nay sayers need to go back to school and take math 99.
The City is still paying the Law firm of S&P over 2M$ a year. The law dept employees are on fixed salaries. So, tell the taxpayers who is being fooled. The second largest city in Georgia! What do any of you know about how contracts are awarded. NOTHING.
There is a process. Why don't you learn more about the process before you form your lack of knowledge opinions.
s7
bye, bye jeri, hope your cell is close to charles' so you two can converse. Chiquita T might be there with you!
big?.You don't need math 99 to know that you have to please your employer to keep your job.
It is too bad you know. When Deke ran for mayor of your city I had hoped you'd finally gotten someone honest and someone who actually cared about his home town. Turns out he is just like all the rest; pass the buck, avoid the questions, steal where he can.
big-gun, i happen to know a little about the procurement bidding process as i often submitted bids & quotations as a local genl contractor,,, to my knowledge, there isn't 1 bidder who thinks augusta's purchasing people can tell the difference 'tween a hole in the ground & ( you know the rest ! ),,, add in a couple other depts who make use of procurement's svcs to complete the farce !
CBBP, I think I saw a shingle that read "Larry, Curly and Moe, Esq., LLP". I figured out that LLP stands for lazy and lousy practices.
far's deke, he deserves both the praise & the slings however he has to combat civil svce tenured employees,,, privately, he is extremely dismay'd to say the least.
What makes you think that the Mayor is doing anything but what he thinks is in the best interest of Augusta? I think he is doing a fine job with what he has to work with.
I like Deke. Get rid of the commission entirely. Give the mayor the power most mayor's have and fire the incompetent boobs along with Fred.
Comparatively I think Deke is a great Mayor. I agree that he can only do so much with the hand that he was dealt.
Reality: And the hand was dealt was by the very people who spend so much time complaining - they voted the fools into office!
As long as the commission is racially split there will never be anything positive happening in Augusta-Richmond County. They either vote together or they are just to sorry to vote at all....
Reality: It's like a merry-go-round. The people vote for those who will give them the most hand-outs but the money to pay for it comes out of somebody else's pocket. Socialistic - look what it's doing to where you are right now!
Its truly a sad day for the Cities taxpayers as our City Administrators and its legal team for such a unprofessional manner in conducting the business if this City. Hopefully Judge Barfield can see through all this nonsence and impose the necessary sanctions to rid the City if those who keep these problems going and bring closure with resolve to this buch of non-accountable administrators.
A true citizen-reflective commission would be black majority. I don't think the problem is racial. It's incompetence. Until county government attracts quality people, we're stuck with the best of a bad lot. How to do that? Bueller? Bueller?
Well I did learn a new way to spell POLITICIANS in one post. Does the city choose the lawyers who represent it in the same way that they hand out contracts? That could easily be a part of the problem. The city council or commission or whatever they are called are elected BY the people to represent THE PEOPLE, not their friends and cronies who own businesses and wish to gain contracts from the city. If there is an ongoing history of this same problem, it's time for the city to have open hearings about who is applying for contracts and how they are awarded, BEFORE the fact, not have negative information leaked out afterwards. It is time for the people to take back the reins of government. They work for US, not the other way around, but we have allowed them to do their own thing uninhibited by the wishes of the people. Get them out of office and put in people who have the interest of the people at heart. There should be no such animal as a career politician. If you are paying attention to the presidential campaign you will already note that one candidate wants to tell all the world leaders what to do and he wants the accolades already of those who have served in the trenches.
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