Tulsa City Councilors Not Paying Attorney Fees

By Emory Bryan, The News on 6 

TULSA, OK -- No Tulsa City Councilors will pay for the lawyers defending them against a lawsuit.

Taxpayers will pay the legal fees of two councilors, while the others have lawyers who are working for free. The city council is being sued over a possible violation of the open meetings act.

7/23/2010 Related Story: Tulsa City Councilors Seek Lawsuit Dismissal

It is standard practice for the City of Tulsa to cover the costs of attorneys representing employees who are being sued in their official capacity.

The City Council approved requests from Councilors GT Bynum and Jim Mautino to have their legal fees paid by the City. The other seven councilors are getting free legal advice and the council voted to officially accept the service as a donation to the City.

None of the lawyers used by the Councilors are employed by the City of Tulsa.

The City Council has criticized Mayor Dewey Bartlett over accepting legal services from a lawyer who also works for the City.