Despite having dozens of attorneys on staff, the city outsources a great deal of its legal work to private attorneys.
In May of 2009, an Austin police officer used deadly force, killing 18-year-old Nathaniel Sanders in the parking lot of a Southeast Austin apartment complex.
The shootingignited a firestorm and public debate over policeshootings. Sanders' familysued the officer who fired thefatal shot.
Instead of using staff attorneys, the city council voted to hire an outside attorney. The city eventually settled with the Sanders' family for $750,000. And that outside attorney, cost another $270,000.
The city doesn't only hire outside counsel for high profile lawsuits, it also hires attorneys for the more routine legal work, like negotiating real estate deals and writing contracts for the police and fire departments.
So why go outside for legal help? Are the staff attorneys too busy? Too inexperienced? Lacking in expertise?
The city defends its policy, arguing outside attorneys have an edge in expertise, that increases the odds a settlement will end in the city's favor.
That expertise comes with a price tag. How much is the city paying outside counsel? How much is it costing taxpayers? The answers Monday in the Austin-American Statesman and Monday at 10 p.m. on KVUE.
