Local News

Lawyer Loot: Tusayan Spending $15,000 A Month On lawyers To Fight The Feds

November 27, 2017

 The Town of Tusayan  is spending $15,000 a month on a high-powered Washington DC law firm Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, and Schreck to try and get the feds to see things differently when it comes to Stilo’s controversial development plans.

The contract lasts for a year and was signed in August. Tusayan has been at odds with the US Forest Service since the agency returned an application to utilize Forest Service property to access the Kotzin property clearing the way for Italian developer Stilo to make millions from its land investments.

Because the feds refused to consider the request, Stilo suffered a major financial setback. Tusayan is now spending 15 grand a month for a period of 12 months to convince the feds otherwise.

According to documents released in a public records request, the law firm’s scope of work states:

“Our engagement will encompass advising and representing Tusayan before Congress and the Administration, including  the  Forest Service and  the  Department  of Interior,  in connection  with its special use permit application to approve roadway and utility easements on property managed by the Kaibab National Forest.”

The firm is considered one of the largest firms in Washington DC and lists natural resources and tribal issues as two of its specialties. That experience comes at a high price. The council’s decision to hire the firm came around the same time council members decided to drastically scale back the Town Park project.

Here is a link to a letter of agreement between the form and the Town