Merriam v. Barnum

Citations

• 116 Cal. 619
• 48 P. 727
• 1897 Cal. LEXIS 598

Syllabus

<p>Counties—Power of Supervisors to Employ Special Counsel—Legal Advice—Province of District Attorney.—The district attorney is the sole legal adviser of the board of supervisors, and they cannot charge the county with liability for special counsel for mere legal advice on matters pertaining to the reconstruction of the courthouse or other matters involving mere legal advice without contemplation of any suit, their power to employ special counsel being limited to the assistance of the district attorney in the prosecution or defense of suits in which the county may be a party.</p> <p>Id.—Illegal Allowance by ■ Supervisors—Mandamus to Auditor.— Mandamus will not lie to compel the county auditor to draw a warrant for an illegal allowance by the supervisors of a claim for services rendered at their request by a special legal adviser of the board.</p>