Opposing lawyers can allege city attorneys hid evidence only if they already know that evidence exists. Lawyers deliberately hid important facts, delayed their disclosure or otherwise sought to subvert evidence in civil cases, the review found. Some legal experts advocate making the top law department job an elected position to ensure city lawyers are focused more on the public good. Only after the first trial did city lawyers produce records that bolstered Hadnott's claims he was falsely arrested, the judge said. A judge sanctioned the county attorney, but the sides settled in 2014 before he could rule on the city attorney.

Source: ABC News June 29, 2016 06:03 UTC