Hot Mess Alert: City Controller, Attorney in Court Against Each Other

Photo by Darren Shannon via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr

This is local government at its finest, folks. Last year when then-City Countroller Laura Chick tried to audit then-City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, a lawsuit against Chick was brought forth. At issue? Chick wanted to audit the City Attorney's workers compensation program, but Delgadillo balked, throwing a lawsuit in the way. More broadly, the question being asked in the lawsuit, does the elected City Controller have the power to audit another elected official?

Now both Chick and Delgadillo are out of office and newly elected officials are here, being forced to deal with it. And in no surprises to anyone, now the current officeholders--City Controller Wendy Greuel and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich--are fighting about it, although in a different manner.

"Trutanich said the best way to establish the scope of the city controller's powers is through a Charter amendment. The City Council, meanwhile, refused to drop the lawsuit to avoid the prospect of being saddled with Chick and Greuel's attorney's fees," explains the Daily News.

The ruling against the Chick is expected to be finalized today.