April 05, 2006

The much-beleaguered lead paint industry is fighting back. According to the AP’s Eric Tucker, industry attorney John Tarantino went to court on Monday to prevent Rhode Island—where in a now-notorious decision the industry was found liable for creating a public nuisance—from paying a large contingency fee to two private firms the AG’s office hired to conduct the lawsuit. Tarantino argues that it’s unconstitutional for lawyers representing a government to have a financial interest in the outcome of the case. Fidelma Fitzpatrick, of Motley Rice, one of the firms contracted, predictably disagrees.