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Atlantic City considers more money for law firms with ties to Langford
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ATLANTIC CITY - Two weeks after a law firm close to Mayor Lorenzo Langford gained approval for $100,000 in additional resort legal work, the firm is now poised to scoop up even more city money.
City Council is scheduled to vote on more change orders for city-hired law firms, including three that have made significant donations to political action committees tied to the mayor.
The most notable is the law firm of Decotiis, Fitzpatrick, Cole and Wisler, long recognized as a strong financial supporter of Langford, which is seeking $125,000 for city tax work. The change order is the firm's third since it obtained a $150,000 contract about three months after the mayor took office. If passed, the firm would have collected $450,000 in less than a year and $225,000 in just two weeks.
The Decotiis firm has also contributed $24,303 in the past two years to two political action committees connected to Langford - Citizens First and Urban Vote-NJ. Both PACs contributed thousands to Langford's campaigns in 2008 and 2009 and have paid for other campaign services to aid Langford's run for office.
Citizens First was once run by Langford's sister, Cheryl Banks, but those responsibilities were taken over last year by Rita Weber, wife of Andrew Weber, one of Langford's top advisers. Andrew Weber is also employed by Stradley, Ronon, Stevens and Young, another city firm requesting a $150,000 change order at tonight's meeting, which would bring their total to $375,000.
The Stradley firm, based in Philadelphia, has donated $35,000 to the same two Langford PACs in the past two years. Stradley won a $150,000 contract Feb. 11 and received a $75,000 change order July 8.
The administration is also requesting a $50,000 change order for Michael A. Armstrong and Associates, a firm that gave $1,000 to both PACs this year and would earn a total of $150,000 since Feb. 11 if council passes the latest measure.
Langford said he has been told the change orders "are prudent," but referred most questions to City Solicitor Robert L. Tarver Jr.
"If (Tarver) needs a certain body of work to be successful, then so be it," Langford said in response to questions about the contracts Monday.
Asked whether the contracts and extensions are paybacks for the law firms' financial support in his recent campaigns, Langford dismissed the question saying, "I'm never going to squash that (allegation)."
Tarver said the recent surge of legal change orders, including six others at council's last meeting, is part of the department's drawn-out initiative to ensure that city-hired law firms hold proper contracts. However, George Frino, an attorney with the Decotiis firm, said the change orders only cover a portion of what the firm is still owed, meaning the firm is being assigned work that exceeds the scope of its contract.
Frino did not know exactly how much more the city owes the firm, but said it exceeds the $100,000 being brought before council tonight. Frino added that he did not know why the city decided not to bring the entire amount before council tonight.
Tarver could not be reached for additional comment on those pending payments but insisted earlier Monday that Decotiis and the other firms are well worth the money.
One of the accomplishments Tarver credited Decotiis with was their challenge of tax appeals handled by a law firm run by George Miller and Dan Gallagher, two city lawyers with extensive ties to city politics. Gallagher did tax work for the city leading up to 2008, when he stepped down.
The firm proceeded to represent residents with tax appeals against the city, creating an unfair advantage, the Decotiis firm argued. State superior and appeals courts agreed and the firm was ordered to cut ties with nearly 200 of its city clients.
Miller and Gallagher both have generally been aligned with politicians that oppose Langford, including their longtime support of bitter Langford rival Craig Callaway.
Contact Michael Clark:
609-272-7204
Change orders
Decotiis, Fitzpatrick Cole and Wisler:
Contributions to Langford PACs: $24,303
Payments: $150,000 (Feb. 11), $75,000 (July 8), $100,000 (Nov. 10), $125,000 (Nov. 24; pending)
Stradley, Ronon, Stevens and Young:
Contributions to Langford PACs: $35,000
Payments: $150,000 (Feb. 11), $75,000 (July 8), $150,000 (Nov. 24; pending)
Michael A. Armstrong:
Contributions to Langford PACs: $2,000
Payments: $50,000 (Feb. 11), $50,000 (July 8), $50,000 (Nov. 24; pending)
Posted in ATLANTIC CITY on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 2:35 am
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