The Anna Maria Commission April 7 voted unanimously to hire Orlando-based attorney William Lawton of the Dean, Ringers, Morgan and Lawton firm to represent the city in the federal case filed by Beach to Bay Construction LLC.
City attorney Becky Vose gave Lawton her recommendation, saying she knew the attorney well and had spoken with him about the case.
“I have full confidence he will provide the city with the type of service it’s come to expect,” Vose said.
The Florida Municipal Insurance Trust, the city’s insurance provider, will provide Lawton’s services to the city.
A drawback to hiring Lawton through FMIT is that if the city decides to remove him from service, the city will then have to pay an attorney.
The city fired the previously appointed FMIT attorney March 28, citing a lack of confidence. The city also was uneasy with FMIT’s conditions — including no say with regard to a settlement.
Vose said that after speaking with Lawton, she believes “settling won’t be a problem.”
“He’ll do an excellent job,” she said.
— Tal Reeve