Danny Williams’ former law firm got potentially lucrative provincial government legal work without competing in any way.
The information is in Telegram editor Russell Wangersky’s weekend column. The Telegram didn’t turn it into a news story.
Last week, the Dunderdale administration announced that Roebothan, Mackay and Marshall would head up a law suit against the tobacco industry.
According to Wangersky, there was “no tender call, request for proposals or other competition. As for whether other law firms were considered or offered a chance to bid on the work, the Justice Department replied:
The province felt Roebothan McKay Marshall was the local law firm that best met the requirements for this work. As well, a number of local firms are conflicted as they represent the tobacco industry.”
The Dunderdale administration also refused to disclose the financial aspects of the deal. The provincial government has new contractual arrangements with both Roebothan, Mackay and Marshall and an American firm retained in 2001 to handle the litigation.
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