[Watchdogs] Co-op to examine law firm payments (Saturdays Statesman)

[Andra Jacoby]

  Co-op to examine law firm payments


    Utility to hire new counsel

By Claudia Grisales <mailto:cgrisales at statesman.com>
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, February 07, 2009

The Pedernales Electric Cooperative said Friday that it will hire new 
lawyers to look into "billing irregularities" involving the utility's 
former outside counsel, Clark, Thomas & Winters .

The move comes two months after a consultant's review of the co-op's 
books identified $510,000 in "unexplained" payments to the Austin-based 
law firm, which in turn were tied to money paid to two relatives of 
co-op officials.

The co-op said it will name legal counsel next week and develop "options 
for action by PEC to protect the interests of its members and the 
cooperative." It cited irregular payments made by the co-op to Clark, 
Thomas as well as payments made by Walter Demond , a partner in the firm 
who served as Pedernales' longtime outside counsel.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/02/07/0207pec.html