Mary Alice Reporting –
The City of Uhrichsville has no legal representative following a council vote to stop payments and then court approval.
At the city’s September 28th meeting, two motions were made: to go back to a mediation agreement, and to stop payment to the Columbus law firm, Ice Miller LLP. Both passed under questionable terms as it was a tie council vote and broken by the council president, something Uhrichsville’s law director disagreed with saying the president had no voting authority.
A Monday hearing was held in the Village of Dennison versus City of Uhrichsville legal battle regarding income tax payment for the Claymont High School that was agreed to in 1998. Current Uhrichsville administration had the contract viewed and lawyers determined it was not valid, and tax money to the village halted. Previous mentions noted the city owing over $53,000 to the village.
Based upon council’s motions, Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Ernest granted the law firm’s request to not represent the city going forward.
“It’s clear from Ice Miller’s request that they anticipate not being compensated going forward and I’m going to grant their motion to release them from any further representation and obligations to the City of Uhrichsville.”
The city will still pay the law firm up to time of judgement.
It’s now up to Uhrichsville to move the issue forward by making a decision of entering into previous mediations, hiring a new law firm, or to settle.
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2023