Letter to the Editor by Steve Patterson, 10/7/7
The attorney general contracted with well-known, successful attorneys to take the state’s case to the federal bankruptcy courts where they received over $110 million in back taxes and property from MCI on behalf of the state. How was the engagement efficient for the state? These lawyers didn’t charge the state a dime for their services, although the contract would have allowed them $17 million in fees from the settlement. In other words, the state could have gotten $93 million, not $110 million; do the math.
Instead, the attorney general asked the court to award the lawyers fees outside the settlement amount, which it did. So, Mississippi got $110 million for nothing – a most efficient arrangement on behalf of the taxpayers of Mississippi.
Steve Patterson
Former Mississippi Auditor
Letter to Clarion Ledger Editor
Magnolia Tribune
