NATION IN BRIEF : FLORIDA : Taxpayers May Help Smith Pay Legal Bill

Taxpayers likely will help William Kennedy Smith pay part of his enormous legal bill, a county official said. Under Florida law, Smith, who was acquitted of charges that he raped a 30-year-old West Palm Beach, Fla., woman, may recover costs that include court reporters’ deposition fees, the costs of witness subpoenas and process servers, standard witness fees that are about $5 each and the bills of expert witnesses for time spent in court. “We really don’t have any choice; it’s not whether we want to or not,” said Tom Greenwald, a Palm Beach County legal assistant. Defense attorney Roy E. Black said he plans to file a motion to “tax costs” with Judge Mary Lupo.