(La Porte County, IN) - By a 2-to-1 vote, the still-clashing La Porte County Commissioners have decided not to pay the current legal tab of the county auditor defending himself against a lawsuit by former county attorney Shaw Friedman for the time being.
Recently, the La Porte County Council, which is th
e fiscal arm of county government, approved payment of the current bill of more than $9,000.
Friedman is suing Stabosz, alleging he acted outside the scope of his job by withholding some of his payments to score political points and out of a dislike for him personally.
The council voted to pay the tab, but if the court rules Stabosz acted personally then he has to refund the money.
Stabosz maintains that he acted as auditor because Friedman did not offer proof that some of his claims were for work outside the scope of his legal duties.
Commissioners Connie Gramarossa and Rich Mrozinski voted not to pay the legal tab until they receive an itemized bill from Stabosz’ attorney and verify his work was valid.
Stabosz told the commissioners overriding the county council’s decision would set the stage for grinding county government to a halt from a power struggle between the fiscal body and the executive body.
“Legitimate, authorized county bills need to be paid. You are opening a Pandora’s box,” he said.
Commissioner Joe Haney argued Gramarossa received the itemized bill in an email sent to her in May and feels his colleagues just wanted to get even politically against Stabosz.
He said Gramarossa and Mrozinski voted to pay all the other hundreds of claims approved by the council except the one from Stabosz’ attorney, and questioned whether they looked at each of the claims before approving them.
“In an email you got a copy of this. You are being spiteful, vengeful and vindictive and flying in the face of the council,” Hagey said.
Gramarossa insisted she did not receive more specific information on the attorney’s billing statement.
“I have no way in a line item knowing exactly what bill this is,” she said.
