THE STORY OF THE ATTORNEY BILLS
SINCE 2012
The November 2nd town election is a choice between the three candidates who want to Keep Summerfield Rural with overall low density, Dunham, Fox, Teresa Perryman, versus three candidates who are pro high density. In fact, their leadership, Tim Sessoms, made the motion June 8, 2021 to increase the UDO to high density including quadplex apartment buildings. Now, at election time, some want the legal bills as a diversion. Fact is that the Town initiated most of the legal actions. Scott Whitaker, Mayor BJ Barnes, and those council members need to take personal responsibility for their actions and the high legal fees. Following is a report based on extensive research into the legal bills by Scoop’s investigative journalism team. It appears that the town and Whitaker have burdened property owners with legal expenses, and code enforcement from town legal and staff time, against some properties that were grandfathered in before incorporation July, 1995. (Town of Summerfield vs. private citizens).
Town attorney for many years $185 an hour Resigned May 1, 2019 and worked through December 2019 $66,000 / year 2018 Plus hired additional counsel.
“Bill Hill” William L Hill Frazier Hill & Fury, RLLP Greensboro NC Bill Hill was also Attorney for Sheriff BJ Barnes, whose wife Dena Barnes was Mayor or Mayor pro tem of Summerfield for many years. Her term on town council ended December 2018. BJ Barnes Mayor of Summerfield December 2018 and term ends December 2021.
April 27, 2018 to March 2021 $350 to $400 an hour Approximate $181,000
Numerous attorneys at $350 to $400 a hour Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Columbia SC 29211
Nov 2019 to present Approximate $118,000 total. Average legal fees from $3,800 to $7,100 per month.
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Robert E Hornik Jr. $200 hour Kevin Hornik (his son) was $185 increased 8/2021 to $200/hr. The Brough Law Firm LLC Chapel Hill NC
Whitaker also directed town staff to reduce their time contacting the town attorneys as the staff was running up legal bills too. April 2018 – April 2021. Nelson Mullins. This is when it got very expensive, with no legal action against the town. Legal action was Plaintiff vs. Guilford County Board of Elections and Janelle Robinson. Janelle initiated the action and no record of who paid for her attorneys. Bill Hill recommended the town had to retain Nelson Mullins with multiple attorneys billing $350 - $400 an hour. Nelson Mullins has about 750 lawyers and payment sent to their office in Columbia South Carolina. If there was no legal action against you, would you rush to retain a group of $400 an hour attorneys that you did not know or had not met? This was not “protecting” the citizens.
SUMMERFIELD SCOOP
