SBY City Council Approves Outside Counsel For Developer Lawsuit After Earlier Rejection

SALISBURY, Md. — The Salisbury City Council has reversed course on hiring additional legal counsel, approving attorney Lyndsey J. Ryan and the attorneys of Booth, Cropper & Marriner, P.C. to represent the city in its ongoing litigation with developers.

The decision comes after the council previously voted 3-2 against a broader proposal to hire additional attorneys to assist with multiple lawsuits.

The council’s latest vote also revealed confusion over the scope of Ryan’s appointment. Council members had understood from an earlier discussion that Ryan would take over the city’s pending litigation, including matters involving development lots 1, 11 and 15. However, the version of the resolution provided to the council and posted publicly states that Ryan’s role is limited to the Worthington Asset Protection, LLC lawsuit.

The resolution also states that Reena J. Patel would continue serving as conflict counsel on matters involving lots 1, 11 and 15, except for the Worthington lawsuit.

Councilwoman Melissa Holland questioned that language during the meeting, saying her understanding from the council’s previous discussion was that those matters would be turned over to Ryan.

“If Miss Ryan is going to be given that piece of it, then I think the 11, 1 and 15 should all flow into it,” Holland said, arguing the matters should be handled by Ryan for consistency.

The confusion also involved which version of the resolution was being considered. According to the council’s discussion, members had previously approved a version of the resolution earlier that morning, while a different version was distributed at the meeting and posted online. The council ultimately voted on the resolution that had been previously approved that morning rather than the version handed out at the meeting.

Under the resolution approved by the council, Ryan and Booth, Cropper & Marriner will serve as special litigation counsel for the Worthington lawsuit, including any related appeals or settlements. The firm will charge the city $235 per hour.

The resolution specifically states that Ryan’s firm is not authorized to act as the city’s City Solicitor, conflict counsel or general municipal counsel.