Bonuses Anger L.A. Prosecutors D.A.’S Staff Furious Over Gifts To Marcia Clark And Company

District Attorney Gil Garcetti’s decision to award nearly $43,000 in bonuses to the lead prosecutors in the O.J. Simpson case has whipped up a storm of criticism from others on the D.A.’s staff, some of whom are demanding similar compensation for anyone who works long, difficult hours on a case.

So angry are some staff members about the 11 percent temporary pay raises given to deputy district attorneys William Hodgman, Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden that a group of them is considering filing a grievance about the matter.

Others are insisting that Clark and Darden reimburse about $350 in fines their colleagues paid for them during the Simpson trial when they were cited for violating court rules.

“I am beyond upset,” said veteran Deputy District Attorney Lea P. D’Agostino. “And so is everyone else to whom I’ve spoken. I’ve never seen such a totality of anger. If the office wants to do this, fine, but do it for everyone. What are the other deputies in this office, chopped liver?”

Responded Garcetti: “This goes beyond working hard, way beyond it. The fact that (Clark, Darden and Hodgman) made 11 percent more is not going to pay for the sacrifices they made, not just for themselves and their families, but for the people of this county.”

The bonuses were not widely known until last week, when leaders of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, a countywide group, confronted one of Garcetti’s aides about them, ADDA president Herb Lapin said Wednesday.

Eventually, the group learned that Clark was retroactively awarded $14,330 above her $96,828 annual salary. Hodgman, an administrator who coordinated the Simpson prosecution, was paid $17,760 above his $120,000 annual salary.

Darden, who earns the same as Clark but who did not join the Simpson prosecution team until three months after her, received an extra $10,750. Darden has also reportedly landed a $1.3 million contract to write a book about the 16-month trial, which ended last month in Simpson’s acquittal.