City Picks Firm for Interim Legal Work
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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — The City Council on Tuesday selected the law firm of Woodruff, Spradlin & Smart to provide interim legal services to the city after the resignation of City Atty. Richard K. Denhalter, who announced last month he was leaving to take a job in San Diego.
A panel of three attorneys from the Orange-based firm will serve as legal counsel for about four months while the city staff studies various alternatives, including whether the city should continue to maintain an in-house, full-time city attorney.
On that panel are John Shaw, contract city attorney for Garden Grove; John E. Cavanaugh, contract city attorney for Cypress; and Lois E. Jeffrey, contract city attorney for Laguna Hills and Tustin. Shaw served as city attorney for San Juan Capistrano from 1984 to 1991 before he joined Woodruff, Spradlin & Smart.
Officials estimate the panel will provide about 20 hours of legal assistance a week at a rate of $150 per hour.
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