Reward Workers, Not the Lawyers

* Re Hennigan, Mercer & Bennett’s wanting a bonus for a “job well done,” after being paid well for the performance of that job (“Lawyers Seek Denial of $48-Million Bonus,” Oct. 8).

Let’s give a “pat on the back,” “judge the totality” and celebrate the “performance beyond expectations” of the many Orange County employees (which include: fire, law enforcement, libraries, health and education, children’s services, etc.). These employees did without pay raises and cost-of-living increases; they worked short-handed due to a hiring freeze, and they did so without needed supplies and repairs to their work areas just to keep the county going while under the bankruptcy.

Most of the Orange County workers affected directly by the bankruptcy earn considerably less than the lawyers that “helped” the county recover the losses. M.E. WELLS

Cypress

* Your report of an additional $48 million being sought by attorneys for recovering $865 million for Orange County after the 1994 bankruptcy fails to state how many hours of legal work justified the undisputed payment of $26 million to the attorneys.

Surely no one involved in the legal actions was able to foresee the amount of the eventual recovery. Looking beyond the possible illegality of the contract providing for fee adjustment after the case was over, one cannot fail to be struck by the exercise in wretched excess being inflicted by Hennigan, Mercer & Bennett in asking Orange County for an additional 184% in fees.

At long last counselors, have you no shame?

DAVID J. STILLER

Costa Mesa