SEAL BEACH : 2nd Opinion Sought on City’s Attorneys

Residents will ask the City Council tonight to seek a second opinion on the performance of its attorneys handling litigation involving Mola Development Co.

Controversy over Mola’s proposal for the Hellman Ranch property has divided the city for several years, and some residents say they think that the law firm is not representing the city well.

A group of residents met recently to discuss what it considers to be problems with the Los Angeles law firm Richards, Watson & Gershon. One of the residents, Beverly Casares, said the group would like a second law firm to evaluate the work on the Mola case.

The firm first defended the city against a successful Wetlands Restoration Society lawsuit seeking to invalidate approval of Mola’s plans to build 329 homes on 149 acres. But during an appeal, an attorney from Richards, Watson & Gershon argued with both sides, prompting one judge to say he was not sure which side the city was on.

The firm is also defending the city and three council members in an $11-million lawsuit filed by Mola. Residents have criticized the firm for failing to win immunity for council members Gwen Forsythe, Marilyn Bruce Hastings and Frank Laszlo.

But City Atty. Quinn Barrow said the law firm has been focusing more on its overall defense. The defense is the same in both instances and it does not cost more to defend the individuals along with the city, Barrow said.

City Manager Jerry L. Bankston said Friday that he does not know how much it would cost to have another law firm evaluate the work of Richards, Watson & Gershon. Such a request is very unusual, he said.

“I’ve never heard of that being done in the private or public sector,” Bankston said. “In the private sector, there are instances where two or more firms are hired to work as associate attorneys, but not to evaluate the others.”