Tulsa Attorneys May End Up Donating More Than A Million Dollars To City

Emory Bryan, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A Tulsa attorney offers what could be a more than million dollar donation to the City of Tulsa.

The offer comes from attorney Clark Brewster, who says he'll defend the City against lawsuits over a police corruption case--for no charge.

12/17/2010 Related Story: Tulsa Attorney Says He'll Represent City For Free In TPD Corruption Case

The city is strapped for cash but was on the verge of setting aside $400 thousand as a down payment on legal costs.

Clark Brewster and Guy Fortney say if the Mayor takes their offer, they'll put the full weight of their firm behind defending the city.

"We decided as a firm to step up and say let us handle it for you and we won't charge you." Brewster said. "It was born in part on the basis of wanting to help the city and knowing that we stand in a special position to lend our expertise."

The city needs legal help because of two dozen potential lawsuits connected to a police corruption case and possible wrongful convictions.

Each released inmate has a potential claim and the cost to the city, just for the lawyers, could be high.

"More along the lines of multiple millions of dollars than hundreds of thousands because we think the litigation, this is the first draft, but this litigation will go on for two or three years, minimum and probably require thousands of hours of work in defense of it," Brewster said.

The city council received the offer and would have to approve the gift to the city.

It's ultimately Mayor Dewey Bartlett's decision, and Monday, his legal staff met with Brewster and four attorneys from the Brewster and Dangelis firm.

The firm just one week ago finalized a more than $75 million winning case against an oil company. They're offering to defend the City of Tulsa for free, whatever the cost.

"It's Clark's adopted city, and it's my hometown and it was an opportunity to give back to the city that has given us so much opportunity, and we just thought it was an important thing to do," said attorney Guy Fortney.

The city council plans to discuss Brewsters offer Tuesday with Mayor Bartlett and Clark Brewster.