O.C. hires law firm for pension reduction help

Orange County supervisors Tuesday unanimously selected the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis to represent them in a lawsuit they may file as they seek to scale back the county’s pension obligation to sheriff’s deputies.

The action came despite a recent legal opinion that cast doubt on whether the effort to whittle down pensions would be successful.

Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona and the deputies union criticized the board for moving forward with the litigation effort. County officials said it would be months before the suit could be filed.