Detroit's Top Lawyer Refuses To Resign
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Detroit Mayor Dave Bing has asked the city's top lawyer to resign, but corporation counsel Krystal Crittendon says she won't leave.
"I met with Corporation Counsel yesterday afternoon and I presented her with a letter, asking her for her resignation, effective immediately," Bing said in a statement. "After giving her 24 hours to consider her decision, Corporation Counsel informed me late this afternoon that she would not resign."
"The Corporation Counsel's recent legal challenge of the Financial Stability Agreement has negatively impacted our city, including our bond rating and the city's ability to finance its ongoing operations. This will cost the city millions of dollars.
"Corporation Counsel believes she has an ethical obligation to the city to consider, but in my opinion part of that obligation as an attorney is to do no harm to your client, the City of Detroit.
"As cited in the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct (Ethics Rules Section 1.13), I believe Corporation Counsel violated that obligation when she filed the lawsuit challenging the Financial Stability Agreement. An appeal of Judge William Collette's recent ruling would only do further damage to the city."
Bing said he plans to meet City Council members this week. He needs six of their nine votes to oust Crittendon.
No one answered her office phone Tuesday evening.
The mayor criticized his top lawyer for filing a legal challenge to a consent deal between Bing and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder designed to head off appointment of an emergency financial manager.
Crittendon said the deal violated a portion of the City Charter. The state said it would withhold revenue sharing money Detroit needed to pay its bills.
A judge dismissed Crittendon's suit saying she lacked the authority to file it.
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