Redmond: The bagel baker's attorney has his dough
REDMOND - The city attorney of Redmond said the bagel baker who has been waiting for the city to pay him a buck already had his dollar, and should ask his own attorney for the dough.
Dennis Ballen took the city of Redmond all the way to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after the city ruled his advertising street signs were illegal. Ballen challenged them on First Amendment grounds and won. The city appealed and lost.
The city paid Ballen's attorney fee of some $300,000 last October. Ballen was awarded just $1 for damages -- all he was seeking -- but Ballen said he never saw it.
But on Wednesday, the city attorney said Ballen has already been given his dough. He said the $1 owed was included in the court costs the city paid to Ballen's attorney.
Ballen's attorney agreed that there was a miscommunication. When they won the case, Ballen requested that the city send him the $1 directly. When it never showed up, they figured the city hadn't paid.
They had, they just didn't know it. Ballen will be getting his $1 to display above his door shortly.
Note: The city attorney was not available for comment for KOMO 4's Wednesday story.
Dennis Ballen took the city of Redmond all the way to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after the city ruled his advertising street signs were illegal. Ballen challenged them on First Amendment grounds and won. The city appealed and lost.
The city paid Ballen's attorney fee of some $300,000 last October. Ballen was awarded just $1 for damages -- all he was seeking -- but Ballen said he never saw it.
But on Wednesday, the city attorney said Ballen has already been given his dough. He said the $1 owed was included in the court costs the city paid to Ballen's attorney.
Ballen's attorney agreed that there was a miscommunication. When they won the case, Ballen requested that the city send him the $1 directly. When it never showed up, they figured the city hadn't paid.
They had, they just didn't know it. Ballen will be getting his $1 to display above his door shortly.
Note: The city attorney was not available for comment for KOMO 4's Wednesday story.
