New Orleans transit defends $800-per-hour legal bill

NEW ORLEANS — When questioned about how much its legal advisers have billed taxpayers, the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) defended its in-house general counsel and an outside law firm hired in 2008 that, in some cases, charged $800 an hour for its services, nola.com reported.

RTA Chairwoman Barbara Major, who said Tuesday she was speaking on behalf of her fellow board members, commended the work done by attorney Sundiata Haley and his firm Haley and McKee, who have been paid more than $1 million since coming on board in May 2005. She cited a range of duties that Haley has taken on as the agency struggled to rebuild itself after Hurricane Katrina. For the full story, click here.