STATE SEEKS TO REBUFF DOJ ON USE OF PRIVATE COUNSEL IN NRD CASE

The state of New Mexico earlier this month sought to rebuff strong charges from the Justice Department that efforts by the state to recover natural resource damages (NRD) using private attorneys on contingency was unlawful. Private attorneys hired to represent the state in the case told a federal district court in New Mexico May 8 that they had initiated the claim using private attorneys based on sound legal principles. "In this case, legal, equitable and sound public policy considerations mandate...