Lawyers present $6M bill for pushing contempt case against Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Jul 26, 2016, 8:20 AM
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
PHOENIX — Attorneys who opposed Sheriff Joe Arpaio in court want almost $6 million in fees and expenses for their efforts in a contempt case against him.
The attorneys previously won a racial profiling case against Arpaio.
The lawyers have asked for $5.9 million for pursuing contempt-of-court allegations against the Maricopa County sheriff and his office. The legal fees would cover from October 2013 to May 2016.
This is the second time the lawyers have sought payment. Two years ago they were awarded almost $4.5 million for the costs of bringing the profiling case to trial.
The attorneys said most of the fees were because of MCSO’s intentional violation of court orders.
U.S. District Judge Murray Snow found Arpaio and three deputies had “demonstrated a persistent disregard for the orders of this court, as well as an intention to violate and manipulate the laws and policies regulating their conduct.”
Taxpayers have already spent $10.4 million on attorney fees in the case.
Snow has been considering whether or not to recommend criminal contempt charges against Arpaio.
Last week, the judge issued the first of a series punishments from his civil contempt ruling by ordering a revamp of the department’s internal affairs inquiries.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
