Esquivel enjoying "cost is no object" defense

The first in a series of depositions in the federal civil rights suit against APS School Board President Marty Esquivel, APS Supt Winston Brooks, APS Executive Director of Communications Monica Armenta, APS Police Chief Steve Tellez, Communications Director Rigo Chavez, and former school board member David Robbins, took place yesterday afternoon.

We paid for one lawyer, the defendants paid for two.
Well, taxpayers paid for two.  Check that, three; in the settlement, taxpayers will be liable for my lawyer too.

The last time I was in court against the APS, I was litigating pro se; advocating in my own defense.  APS sent two lawyers.

APS can do that because their budget for litigation, even in their own self interests, is unlimited.  They can do that because for the most part, they can spend without oversight.  There is not one of the board members and administrators being sued, who doesn't outrank the person charged with overseeing their expenditure in their own defense.

If you had anywhere near all the facts about the representation (so far we have yet to see even a signed contract), the facts might justify the employment of a brace of lawyers.  If they don't, then taxpayer dollars are being wasted.

You might wonder why the Journal doesn't care about the appearance of egregious conflicts of interest and, the blatant impropriety in politicians and public servants spending on their own legal defenses without limit and without oversight ...

... for all the good it will do you.