Firefighters’ supporters and residents urge council to stop spending more on Summit Law Group litigation

Multiple speakers in public testimony asked Spokane City Council to reconsider additional appropriations for continued litigation handled by Summit Law Group (item OPR20210722). Tim Archer, a former Spokane firefighter appearing on behalf of plaintiffs in Bacon v. Woodward, told council that federal courts had already found constitutional violations and asked the city to pursue mediation rather than additional litigation. Elizabeth Hug, a community member and business owner, said the $200,000 in additional legal spending would be better used to support firefighters and urged the council not to continue funding the defense.

Councilmember Cathcart requested that OPR20210722 and a separate contract be pulled for individual consideration; when the council proceeded to those items, records in the legislative sequence indicate the separated items were voted on and the relevant contract items passed with a 6–1 tally. Public speakers in open forum later raised related concerns about free speech and the council's scope to discuss matters already on the agenda.