Thursday, January 17, 2002
Page 4
Epstein, Turner & Song Sue State For $79,700 in Attorney Fees for Representing State Worker
By a MetNews Staff Writer
The Westside Los Angeles firm of Epstein, Turner & Song has filed suit against the state of California, alleging they are owed $79,789.47 in attorney fees for representing a state employee in a case ending last May.
David Epstein, a partner at the firm, said the state retained his firm in spring 2000 to represent an employee of the state Economic Development Department in a lawsuit alleging age discrimination on the part of the agency.
The state agreed to pay the fines, Epstein said, but one and a half years later, they still haven’t received the money.
“This is a result of bureaucratic red tape,” Epstein said.
He said his firm has had two conversations with the state. In the first, a state employee told Epstein that his firm would get paid but that the matter was held up on Gov. Gray Davis’ desk, who was now more closely examining attorneys’ fees paid by the state, Epstein said.
In the second conversation, another state employee said the state was very embarrassed and sorry, and said they would do whatever had to be done to get the money to Epstein’s firm, Epstein said.
The firm has handled cases for the EDD before, Epstein said, and the agency was brought in as a client by a now former partner.
Davis’ office could not be reached for comment.
Copyright 2002, Metropolitan News Company