A report today says Niagara Region paid more than $95,000 for the lawyer who tried to influence an investigation by the Ontario Ombudsman.
The Standard is reporting that is the total cost paid to the Toronto law firm of Norton Rose Fulbright after the Ombudsman probed the illegal seizure of a journalist's computer and notes by the municipality.
The work, by lawyer Jennifer Teskey, was done between Jan. 4 and May 31
In his report, the Ombudsman found the Region's actions - which were lead by CAO Carmen D'Angelo and Regional Chair Alan Caslin - were "unreasonable, unjust, wrong and contrary to law.”
Paul Dube wrote that Teskey - who was hired to represent the region because the municipality's lawyer was a witness to the events of Dec. 7 - tried to manipulate the outcome of his investigation.