Law firm for L.A. wants $5 million more in fees in homeless case

Gibson Dunn billed city $1.8 million for two weeks of work. A bigger contract is sought.

- DAVID ZAHNISER

L.A. City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto has asked the City Council to approve a new deal with Gibson Dunn.

The high-powered law firm that racked up big bills working to keep the city of Los Angeles from losing control over homeless programs is now looking to increase its contract by $5 million.

City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto has asked the City Council to increase the city’s contract with Gibson Dunn & Crutcher to $5.9 million, up from the $900,000 approved three months ago.

Gibson Dunn has been defending the city since mid-May in a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit LA Alliance for Human Rights, which resulted in a settlement agreement requiring the construction of new homeless housing and the removal of street encampments.

The group alleges that the city has repeatedly violated the agreement.

The Times reported last month that Gibson Dunn billed the city $1.8 million for about two weeks of work, with 15 attorneys charging $1,295 per hour and others charging lower amounts.

By Aug. 8, Gibson Dunn had racked up $3.2 million in billings in the case, according to a confidential memo sent to the council by Feldstein Soto, a copy of which was reviewed by The Times.

Those invoices have arrived during a difficult financial period for the city, caused in part by a surge in expensive legal payouts.

Much of the firm's work was focused on its preparation for, and participation in, a lengthy hearing before a federal judge who was weighing the group's request to hand control of the city’s homeless initiatives over to a third party.