MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars defending its actions.
WREG Investigators uncovered new records that show the district entered agreements with the Spence Partners law firm to help with multiple legal matters over the past year and a half, and it’s cost the district a pretty penny.
Between January 2024 through April of this year, the bills total nearly $396,608. Nearly half of that money went to two matters.
Five people were prohibited from school board meetings following what transpired at a tense meeting in May 2023 when they voiced their concern over the superintendent search.
The board said the group broke public comment policy and used noise-making devices to disrupt their meeting, but the five, who call themselves the “School Board Five,” filed a lawsuit. They claimed their First and 14th Amendment rights were violated.
An engagement letter shows the board retained Spence Partners to help them with the matter.
Invoices the district provided through an open records request show the firm charged more than $95,000 for hourly services, fees, and more related to the case.
In December, the School Board 5 announced they reached a settlement. The district would pay $200,000 to the five and their attorneys.
The Spence law firm also helped the school board build a case against Superintendent Dr. Marie Feagins. They charged anywhere from $350 to $425 per hour.
At a special-called meeting in January, the firm’s founder stepped in front of the podium to break down a lengthy report he and his law firm conducted for the board. Many taxpayers protested and questioned what that report cost.
An invoice showed the work related to Feagins started on December 20.
Another invoice shows Spence and his staff charged $13,900 for their work the day the special-called meeting was held in January.
Spence also stressed at that January meeting, his firm would defend the school board if Feagins filed suit, which she has.
We obtained four invoices for their work related to the Feagins matter. The description of the work is mostly redacted, but the price tag is seen clearly. It totals more than $125,000.
That price is expected to rise as the case continues. Feagins recently filed an injunction to void the school board’s firing.
We’ve reached out to the board and the Spence Partners, and they said in part: “This has been money well spent, as the district has enjoyed extraordinary returns on the investments with our strategic outside counsel arrangements through mitigated legal exposure and favorable outcomes in litigation.”