$7.6 Million: The Cost to Defend Alabama Department of Corrections
Last week, the Alabama Department of Corrections presented three contracts for attorney Bill Lunsford to provide representation in three ongoing federal lawsuits. Lunsford recently moved from Maynard Cooper to Butler Snow, resulting in the need to reissue his existing contracts to reflect his new firm affiliation. The total bill for the contracts is $7.6 million, which, assuming Lunsford earns only that amount, will put him on track to take in more than $20 million from the state since 2021.
The contracts continue a pattern of taxpayers dishing out millions of dollars to an outside attorney, while also still paying numerous attorneys employed by the AG’s office and the ADOC. However, ADOC has struggled to find money to address many of the issues brought to light in the cases for which Lunsford is representing the state. These cases include a lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice, which found Alabama’s prisons to be woefully understaffed in both officers and healthcare professionals.
The contracts continue a pattern of taxpayers dishing out millions of dollars to an outside attorney, while also still paying numerous attorneys employed by the AG’s office and the ADOC. However, ADOC has struggled to find money to address many of the issues brought to light in the cases for which Lunsford is representing the state. These cases include a lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice, which found Alabama’s prisons to be woefully understaffed in both officers and healthcare professionals.
The understaffing issues have led to nearly incomprehensible levels of prisoner abuse and deaths, and the conditions have deteriorated since the lawsuits began. Despite the bleak outlook, the state is still paying millions to defend itself. Representative Chris England, who is also an attorney, has expressed doubt that the state will win the lawsuit.
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