Did the city offer a secret settlement to Mayor Butts’ ex-aide?
Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr. has denied being in a “sexual relationship” with a city consultant who has filed a claim against him alleging sexual assault. Mayor Butts issued the denial through his attorney, who could have also been involved in a questionable relationship with the twice elected mayor as well.
Behind the scenes, lawyers for both the city and former mayoral aide Melanie McDade, continue to fight to have law firm Miller Barondess (MB), specifically Mira Hashmall, dismissed from the case under the “black letter law”.
Black letter law is the equivalent to Basic Law 101. As MB formerly represented McDade, anything she may have told them about her relationship with Butts is confidential, and therefore, cannot be used against her in the mayor’s defense.
There is an appearance of impropriety, which is one of the foundations of the ethics of law, given that McDade was represented by the MB, during the city’s fight against Madison Square Garden.
During McDade’s deposition, and questions began to surround the TRUE nature of the relationship between McDade and Butts, attorney Jason Takoro terminated the deposition and asked for an arbitrator to decide whether the question(s) should be answered.
Why is Hashmall defending the mayor so vigorously???
City Hall insiders also share rumors are permeating amongst employees that McDade was offered a mid-six-figure settlement PRIOR to her filing an initial claim for damages.
A settlement McDade allegedly rejected.
As for the latest claim against the mayor, he claims he never engaged in a sexual relationship with T. Doe. Will she be forced to describe her alleged assailants’ body to prove her claims have merit?
