Idaho IEN Legal Fees Near $1M

Idaho’s legal fees to defend its now-voided contract for the Idaho Education Network high school broadband service have now climbed to nearly $1 million. A 4th District judge voided the $60 million contract this week, throwing into doubt the fate of the broadband and video-conferencing network that currently provides distance-learning courses and other services to Idaho high schools. The contract was issued illegally, the judge ruled, when it was changed after the bids were opened to cut out one of the bidders, Syringa Networks. Idaho has brought in a private attorney, Merlyn Clark of Hawley Troxell, to represent it in the case. The State Department of Administration, in response to a request from The Spokesman-Review, reported last night that it’s paid $605,070.73 in legal fees to date for the case. “There are additional legal fees paid by the Attorney General’s office that are not included in this number,” IEN spokeswoman Camille Wells said in an email/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here .