SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AttorneyNewswire.com) — August 3, 2010 — The Arizona Law Firm of Holloway, Odegard, Forrest, Kelly and Kasparek is billing the City of Scottsdale up to $150 per hour in its defense of the Scottsdale Police Department where SWAT team members are accused of attempting to kill David Hulstedt on November 7, 2008. The law firm is authorized to bill up to $150,000 without additional approval from the Scottsdale City Council.
Per public records obtained by the AttorneyNewswire, Holloway Odegard is authorized to charge the city $150 for each hour of work performed by a partner, $135 for each hour of work performed by an associate, and $75 for each hour of work performed by a paralegal. If partners, associates, and paralegals are working together at the same time on the case, the City of Scottsdale will be billed hundreds of dollars per hour.
As reported on the website ScottsdalePoliceShooting.org, David Huldstedt was undergoing treatment for a mental health condition when he called 911 asking for help from the Arizona Governor. Instead of responding with calm and caring, a Scottsdale police dispatcher broadcast that there was a “crisis” at the residence, and that a little girl was crying in the background. The little girl crying was David’s daughter. She needed a new diaper.
Over the hours that followed, Scottsdale Police descended on the home with the full force of military attack. Instead of following policy and procedure for dealing with a citizen with a mental issue, police officers shouted conflicting orders at David, who ultimately emerged from the home with his daughter. With no authorization to do so, SWAT officers opened fire on David Hulstedt, critically injuring him and forcing him to drop his daughter. She was injured. Officers were then caught on video tape dragging David Hulstedt for more than 100 yards. He remains paralyzed.
The Hulstedt family is suing the City of Scottsdale in federal court.
For More Information, the secretly taped video that contradicts the Scottsdale Police Department’s version of events, and the city council document revealing how much Holloway Odegard is to be paid:
For more on the firm representing the City of Scottsdale, click here.
