Lafayette School Board Plows Through Budget, Racking Up Legal Expenses

(Information in the following story is from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com )

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — The Lafayette Parish School Board has racked more than $120,000 in legal expenses for work related to an investigation and firing of its former superintendent.

The Advocate reports the invoices also involve work related to representation of the board against Pat Cooper's legal challenges, including his pending wrongful termination claim.

In addition, the board also has paid $178,247 to Hammonds, Sills, Adkins & Guice for legal services. Last year, the board opted to have the private firm as its general counsel instead of the free general counsel services it had received from the District Attorney's Office.

With all of its legal expenses, the school board surpassed its $183,000 budget.

Board President Tommy Angelle says the board meets Tuesday to review how it moves forward.