Surfside Hires Gerald Houlihan For Only $750 an Hour!

Boy do those schleppers in Surfside know how to cut a deal.

For example, after getting hit with a federal lawsuit over a refusal to make some zoning changes to accommodate an expanded synagogue, the town attorney allegedly recommended they hire a federal lawsuit "specialist" who she -- according to this New Times article -- also just happens to be "dating," none other than dashing Gerry Houlihan:

This past December, Young Israel of Bal Harbour — a Jewish congregation that is actually based in Surfside — filed a lawsuit against the town after the town commission voted no to make zoning amendments that would have allowed the group to establish a new synagogue on an 8,000-square-foot lot it had purchased for $1.5 million. Young Israel claimed this was a violation of its members' religious rights, and demanded $5 million in punitive damages.

This sounds like a job for that town attorney. Except Dannheisser opined that the case required a specialist in federal lawsuits. She "looked around for the most experienced litigator," she explained at a recent commission meeting. She officially recommended that the town hire Gerald Houlihan. The Coral Gables attorney and Dannheisser are, by her own public admission, "dating." Houlihan's firm agreed to represent Surfside in the battle against the Jewish congregation for the low, low price of $750 an hour.

What's the problem?

Isn't that the whole point of being a town attorney -- steering business to friends, lovers and former colleagues?

Seriously, why else do it?

(I guess there's also all the free tickets!)

I also think Lynn cut a great deal getting Gerry at a bargain basement rate -- the dude's practically doing this pro bono as a public service -- just listen to Lynn explain it:

Dannheisser's somewhat mind-blowing defense: that Surfside has already obtained the services of another law firm — Weiss, Serota & Helfman — and that she was once a law partner with Joe Serota. Dannheisser boasted that "because of those personal relationships, I have been able to request that the attorneys cut their legal fees from $500 an hour to $250 per hour." That, she claimed, is "the benefit of those relationships."

Indeed.

(Psst -- don't tell anyone about what Michael Pizzi is charging the town of Medley, it might make Gerry seem a little pricey).

Pizzi Logic: Lesson #318

“If this is the worst thing anybody can say about me that I referred an alleged crime victim to the police about some table, then I must be a pretty ethical and upstanding person,” Pizzi said.

Today's lesson underwritten by Medley taxpayers at the heavily discounted rate of $500 $80 an hour.

Bonus preview of Lesson #319:

“If rambling on and glad-handing and placating concerned constituents is a crime, I think every elected official in Dade County would get the death penalty.”

Michael Pizzi Gets $500 an Hour?

Strike that.

I meant to say Michael Pizzi gets $500 an hour!

Well, except when he's trying to seal a deal:

The tipping point came when Pizzi offered to undercut Wolfe’s fee. Though Wolfe’s firm billed the city $85 per hour, Pizzi said he would beat this price.

“My typical rate is $500 per hour, but I will accept the reduced rate of $80 per hour in order to assist your city,” said Pizzi, who insisted that any agreement be made not with him but rather with his law firm, Michael A. Pizzi LLC. The council did not immediately decide how many hours per week they planned to pay for Pizzi’s services.

Eighty bucks an hour?

Wow, I've got a landscaper that bills at a higher rate.

This is truly a magnanimous gesture (unless, perhaps, for Mel Wolfe).