JJ obtained copies of invoices submitted by Madison County Board Attorney Eric Hamer for the last twelve months. JJ examined Mr. Hamer's contracts in an earlier post and determined Madison County paid him over $655,000 since July 2008 and the average monthly invoice is over $24,000.
Mr. Hamer billed the county in great detail for his services. The September invoice is typical of the fees claimed by Mr. Hamer. The invoice is for $30,364. No matter was too great or too small to escape Mr. Hamer's time sheets. Talking to supervisors, emailing the chancery clerk, going on three-day trips to nice resorts, researching executive sessions laws, all of it was fodder for his billing machine. Some of the services claimed are:
7/28/10 Emails to A. Johnston, Sample Mclellan, McNaughton, Mayo, & Ryan: $136 (All county employees)
7/28/10 Preperation for and meeting with J. Granberry regarding State Aid issues and B. Sellers et al (Canton). 2.1 hrs $409 (Granberry and Sellers are county employees.)
Meeting with A. Johnston (Chancery Clerk) on various issues 1 hr. $195
7/30/10 Emails to/from L. Mayo .1 hr $19.50 (Mayo is a county employee)
8/1/10 Meeting with T. Johnson regarding various issues. 1.2 hrs $234
8/2/10 Emails to/from K. Banks and J. McNaughton .2 hrs $39
8/2/10 Attending Ridgeland Board Meeting with T. Johnson et al 1.1 hrs $214
8/3/10 Study & review of memo regarding gates on public roads, and study * review of AG opinion request letter. . 4hrs. $78
8/4/10 Meeting w/ T. Johnson regarding Old Courthouse air conditioning contract .5 hrs $97.50
8/6/10 Telephone conf. with K. Pace, T. Johnson. B. Blackmon, and K. Banks .4 hrs. $78
8/6/10 Meeting with T. Johnson and R. Warnock .5 hrs. $97
8/6/10 Prep. for and meeting with D. Toler regarding state aid issues. 1.8 hrs. $351
8/9/10 Telephone conference with W. Sample, A. Johnston, T. Trowbridge, T. Pickett,C. Parker, M. Houston, R. Warnock, and T. Johnson .9 hrs. $175
8/10/10 Telephone conference with a whole bunch of county officials, supervisors, and attorney for Rankin County 1.4 hrs. $273
8/10/10 Meeting with A. Johnston, B. Sellers, & T. Trowbridge 3/5 hrs. $682
8/15/10 Meeting with Tim Johnson 1.2 hrs. $234
8/15/10 Legal research regarding executive session laws and volunteer regarding settlement of claims 1.4 hrs. $273
8/16/10 Brief meetings w/ Q. Green, T. Johnson, H. Crunk, P. Griffin .6 hrs. $117
8/17/10 Telephone conference with J. Granberry, C Plumb, J.B. Crosby & R. Warnock .7 hrs. $136
8/19/10 Meeting with T. Johnson .3 hrs $58.50
8/24/10 Legal research regarding special election issues .5 hrs. $97.50
8/24/10 Meeting with T. Johnson & Rudy Warnock 1 hr. $195
8/25/10 Telephone conference with T. Johnson, R. Warnock, B. Sellers, D. McClellan, M. Guest, B. Blackmon, B. Parker, M. Guest, and D. Landrum 1 hr $195
8/31/10 Meeting with P. Griffin, Mayor Truly, B. Blackmon, Q. Green, R. Warnock, and T. Johnson 2.8 hrs. $546
COPY EXPENSE: 46.05 It should be pointed out this county employee charges the county for copying expenses every month.
The rest of the invoices run in similar fashion and are available below for your review. Some expenses deserving of attention are:
7/26/10 Meeting with T. Johnson and J.B. Crosby regarding meeting Auditor's office. Brief meetings with L. Mayo, P. Griffin, H. Crunk, et al 2.2 hrs. $429
7/17/10 Traveling to NACO Conference and Attending NACO conference 8.8 hrs. 1,716.00
7/18/10 Attending NACO Conference 5 hrs. $975
7/19/10 Attending NACO Conference Work Sessions 2.5 hrs. $487
7/20/10 Travel from NACO Conference 7.5 hrs. $1,462
4/29/10 Prep. for meetings in Canton w/ Dr. Sethi & Kay Pace, W. Sample, Jim Turner, R. Warnock, et al; T. Johnson, additional meeting w/ W. Sample 6.3 hrs. $1,228.50
5/10/10 Preparation for and meeting with Mike Kent at Madison Central and meetings with K. Banks and T.Johnson 1.5 hrs. $292.50
5/12/10 Prepearation for and meeting with A. Johnston, B. Sellers, John Granberry. Meeting with Kay Pace. 1 hr. $195
4/14/10 Prepare for and meeting with G. Barber, et al re: TIF task force 2.5 hrs. $487
4/20/10 Travel to and attending PDD conference in Biloxi $975
4/21/10 Attending PDD conference and returning from same, multiple telphone conferences with M. Houston, A. Johnston, T. Johnston, R. Warnock, T. Trowbridge, T. Picket. K. Banks 10 hours $1,950
3/4/10: Meeting with D.I. Smith 1 hr $195
3/9/10 Telephone conferences with Granberry, Houston, T. Johnson, Magehee (MCSD), Seale (lobbyist) .9 hrs. $175
1/11/10 Legal research and review AG opinions and recent ethics changes 2 hours #390
1/13/10 Study and review PRV proposal legislation and prepare for and attending meeting with Sen. Yancey et al 3 hrs. $585
1/22/10 Meeting with Lobbyist S. Seale .5 hrs. $97.50
1/28/10 Prepare for and meetings in Canton with K. Pace, G. Barber, K. Banks, A. Johnston, C. Parker, M. Houston, et al 4.8 hrs. $936
2/15/10 Meetings with K. Banks, Mayor Magee, G. Steen, T. Johnson et al 2 hrs. $3
Here are the invoices:
August invoice, July invoice, June invoice, May invoice, March invoice, February invoice, March invoice, December 2009, November 2009, January 2010, October 2009
It should be noted no authorization to pay Mr. Hamer for his billable time while attending actual sessions on said trips is mentioned in the minutes although his travel and registration expenses were authorized. Mr. Hamer fully supported his average monthly $24,000 fee in his invoices and the Board of Supervisors paid them without question. The Attorney General stated in the 2002 Wolfeopinion:
"In the event that the Board of Supervisors finds that there are special cases or circumstances which are not within the scope of the duties of the regular board attorney; that additional legal services are reasonable and necessary for conducting the county's business; and spreads such findings on its minutes, the board has the discretion to hire either the board attorney or another attorney on an hourly fee contract to attend to those additional legal needs."
The question is then whether the Board properly authorized the work claimed as the basis for these fees. JJ reviewed the minutes and stated its findings below. In contrast to the substantial fees billed to Madison County by Eric Hamer, the Hinds County Board Attorney works part-time for a supervisor's salary and has no invoices or billable time sheets to produce.
Note: The law does allow the board to authorize "special" work for the board attorney under either another contract or at the direction of the board as specified in the minutes. The Board minutes over the last twelve months authorized the following actions:
8/24/09 Mr. Hamer is authorized to draft resolutions and handle other work on Calhoun Station Parkway. Correspond with Neel-Schaffer, Authorize Mr. Hamer to review and negotiate with Gulf South Construction to move gas line
9/30/09 Authorize DC Trip for delegation, including Mr. Hamer
10/9/09 Authorize Mr. Hamer to deal with State Farm, handle the removal of a horse from private property, deal with Denson Farm Developers, Secure movement of waterline for Reunion, Discuss moving gas pipeline on Sowell Road
11/2/09 Authorize Mr. Hamer to handle easement documents for Hart Road
12/7/09 Handle easements for Cane Creek Road Bridge Project
1/19/09 Prepare easement documents for Dry Creed Road Bridge, wok on closing sale of property on Hwy 463, draft memorandum of understanding on Gluckstadt Middle School Turn Lane Project, draft agreement with West Madison Utilitly District, Attend meetings on dissolving PRVWSD
1/25/10 Research permit hauling policy
2/1/10 Draft easement documents for Calhoun Station, determine amount of compensation due to Gulf South pipeline, authorize Hamer to "re-secure" funds paid to MMEIA ($660,000)
3/1/10 Authorize all Supes, major officials, and Mr. Hamer to attend PDD conference in Biloxis and approve travel & registration expenses. NO mention of paying Mr. Hamer for his billeable time; Prepare easement docs for Gus Green Road, prepare lease docs, prepare Agreement on Germantown Middle School Turn Lane project
4/5/10 Approve New Orleans trip for May. Travel & Registration expenses approved. No mention of Hamer's billable time.
4/19/10 prepare easement docs for Moss Road Bridge
5/3/10 Authorize June trip to Tunica in June for Mississippi Association of Supervisors Convention. Travel and Registration expenses approved. No authorization mentioned for paying for Mr. Hamer's billable time at the convention.
5/17/10 Hamer authorized to talk to developers
6/7/10 Hamer authorized to defend coroner in litigation, Authorize Supers, major officials, and Mr. Hamer to attend NACO in Reno, Nevada in July, Approved registration and travel expenses. No mention made of paying for Mr. Hamer's billable time.
7/21/10 Hamer authorized to handle Virlilia Road matter.
9/7/10 Hamer to draft contract for employee, Authorize all Supers, major county officials, and Mr. Hamer to attend Supervisor workshop in Meridian in October.
All travel and registration expenses approved. No authorization given for Mr. Hamer's billable hours while attending actual sessions.
9/20/10 Authorize everyone and Mr. Hamer to attend Mid-Winter conference of Mississippi Emergency Management Association in November at the casin-er in Neshoba. All travel and registration approved. No mention made of paying for Mr. Hamer's billable time while attending sessions. Mr. Hamer authorized to prepare easements.
9/30/10: Supes attempt to update Mr. Hamer's contract
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Eric Hamer invoices. I report. You decide.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
35 comments:
"8/4/10 Meeting w/ T. Johnson regarding Old Courthouse air conditioning contract .5 hrs $97.50"
So they pay a $200/hr. rate for an attorney to review an air conditioning contract.......hopefully there was much more to it than that.
"8/31/10 Meeting with P. Griffin, Mayor Truly, B. Blackmon, Q. Green, R. Warnock, and T. Johnson 2.8 hrs. $546
"
Have to say, anyone able to stomach that group for 2.8 hours deserves $546 and then some.....
That is over 40 hours per week.
Legal bills cannot tell you much without looking at the value of the service provided and the work product.
Regardless I think the County would be wise to hire full-time counsel and alleviate this problem altogether.
In this case you are wrong. First of all, there is no contract for 2009 and 2010. Period. The law limits the contract to a one year term. Second of all, if it is indeed outside the scope of his duties, the board has to authorize the special work and then spread it on the minutes.
You can't get around the fact the minutes don't show an authorization for the hours and hours he billed to the county for time spent at these conventions. The law says HE IS AN EMPLOYEE. Last time I checked, when I went to a trade show or sales meeting, my employer didn't pay me extra outside of travel expenses as I was on the damn clock.
I could be wrong but I believe there are similar (attorney) problems in Clinton.
What about Niknar? Bet they have the same setup.
Niknar???
Spell it backwards.
"Monthly Salary $3,500" on the last page of the bill?????
Spell it backwards.
t-i
What do I win?
Where is the authorization for suing MDOT? I'm sure there will be billable hours for that one.
You know ... niknaR ... one of two counties that are propping up the dying HindsCo+Jacktown.
This stinks to high heaven! the Tax Payers are getting ripped off big time.
so what? Hamer is damn fine lawyer and right smart fellow. He's worth every penny. This sounds like sour grapes. KF, you are living up to your name today huh? Every man a King! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huey_Long
3:52--I totally agree.
Pickering's audit should be elevated to a criminal investigation.
At this point it appears that Madison County and their contracted professionals are grabbing a straws to keep their antics under wrap.
It sucks that the taxpayers not only get ripped off from the County's decisions, but the taxpayers will also have to pay for the County's legal fees and such to defend their poor decisions and mismanagement of funds.
KF - I normally agree with you. However, I can't here.
Are you saying that someone who is requested to do work should not be paid for the work they've done? Seems like that is embracing "Obama-nomics" - lets not get paid for work we do, but instead give it to others????
Sorry, if Eric Hamer did the work, he should get paid for it. That's fair.
First of all, Mr. Hamer is a lawyer. He knows what the law is. He can't claim not to know what it is while cashing the checks. I have no problem making him pay back money for trips taken where his fees were not authorized.
If he is not responsible for repaying the fees for two years when he had no contract, then the Board, yes, the Board, should have to repay that. If that means Karl Banks loses that land next to Calhoun Station so precious to him and his family, tough luck.
The issue is not whether Mr. Hamer worked hard or did the work, the issue is whether he was validly employed in the first place and if these fees are legal or should have been paid by the county. If they should not have been paid at all, then the Board is culpable.
Ignorance of the law is no defense; especially when an attorney is involved!
These executive politicians are just laughing all the way to the bank and making fools out of the taxpayers!!!!! Just think Elvis tried to blame Brunini for the bad contracts and Hamer is perfectly working on his next invoice. Question here how did the Brunini firm invoice?
I have to say this...
The reporting here on issues that affect us daily is some of the finest I've ever seen.
There are days that we all sit back and just accept the lot in life we were dealt, then there is the reality that we do have the ability to change the many insidious (search that) activities that we would never realize without the light that is shined here.
While we criticize through our comments; laws and amendments and proclamations are passed to rationalize the very insidious behavior they are called out.
Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to pass the laws to govern those that live in the grey areas for personal gain.
I guess the good taxpayers of Madison County are just going to keep accepting this type of mis-management with their tax dollars. Wake up folks you are being robbed and no, not legally!
This is better money than Bruce Cutler made as "house counsel" for La Cosa Nostra. And Cutler is a good lawyer.
According to Payscale.com, the average annual salary for a city attorney is $82,000-114,000, or about $9000-10,000 a month.
I recall Brunini's bill was close to $400k/yr
If my income increased as much as Hamer's has, my ex-wives/babies mommas would be coming out of the woodwork trying to get a piece of the action.
@Curt: No you didnt!
10:07, comparing Ed Brunini to Eric Hamer is analagous to comparing a porterhouse to an MRE.
What Curt said at 1024...
Eric Hamer is just the lastest scammer in Madison County. He has been doing it with the blessing of 4 of our MC BOS. The BOS do not have the brains to be running their own business let alone the county's business. Look at your current tax bill compared to last year.
Excellent reportage! Well researched, concisely written and documented. I thank Kingfish for bringing to light the excesses of government, wherever those governments are. He is to be commended for this hard work.
Did anyone notice he hardly billed for dealings with Pickering's office?
I have noticed the closer to Jackson one gets, the more corrupt the local governments.
You are right, Madison butts up nicely to Jackson.
Yet another threat.
Post a Comment