Quite a bit of press and public fallout has happened so as to result in Costa Mayor Jim Righeimer and Councilman Steve Mensinger suing the Costa Mesa Police Officers’ Association, its former law firm Lackie, Dammeier, McGill & Ethir, and private investigator Chris Lanzillo in August 2013 after Mr. Lanzillo followed Mr. Righeimer home and allegedly called police to say Mr. Righeimer was driving while drunk–with the police union and law firm denying involvement with Mr. Lanzillo’s alleged conduct.
The Cost Mesa Police Officers’ Association had filed a claim with the City of Costa Mesa last month requesting reimbursement of expenses to defend itself in the suit, with the fees estimated to be more than $50,000.
In a November 23, 2013 article by Antonie Boessenkool in The Orange County Register, three City Council members–with recusals by Messrs. Righeimer and Mensinger–voted in closed session to deny the request for reimbursement.