Monday, June 23, 2008

Port of Seattle Legal Fees Reach $1 Million

The scathing December 2007 performance audit of the Port of Seattle’s construction management and contracting practices has been an expensive endeavor for the Port. The State Auditor’s Office found that the Port wasted $97 million in public money through their practices.

And now the Port has been billed over $1 million from three law firms for their work in helping the Port investigate and respond to the audit, including charges of potential fraud in the Port’s contracting, and working with the U.S. Department of Justice as they investigate the fraud allegations.

The Seattle Times has a story on the Port’s legal fees in its June 23, 2008 edition.

Nora Huey begins her challenging job as the new director of the Port’s recently created Central Procurement Office on June 30th. Nora is a highly competent attorney who previously worked for King County and has the skills and knowledge necessary to help bring some structure and discipline to the Port’s contracting practices.

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