WRCOG Seeks $2 Million More From City of Beaumont

As the saga over a massive lawsuit against Beaumont continues, the city says they are opposing the latest motion by the Western Riverside Council of Governments which seeks millions in fees.

According to WRCOG Executive Director Rick Bishop, the agency– which won a lawsuit against the city totaling more than $42 million in May 2014– wants to also recoup a total of $2,077,525 in legal fees and expert witness costs.

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“The judge made a tentative ruling in our favor today,” Bishop told Banning-Beaumont Patch on Friday. “We’re certainly thrilled that the tentative ruling was in our favor and we deserve to recoup those costs.”

However, Beaumont doesn’t agree with that, and they appeared in court Friday to oppose the motion for attorney fees.

The city says they are awaiting the final ruling from the judge.

“After oral argument at the hearing this morning, the Judge took the matter under submission to conduct further research in response to the City’s arguments,” a statement from the city of Beaumont issued Friday states. “The Judge is expected to issue a written ruling within the next few weeks.”

The city filed an appeal to the WRCOG lawsuit in 2014 which applies to the $42 million case, and a decision in that appeal is not expected for another couple years.