It's hard to find sympathy when you don't have any cash and you've lost all your power, Kwame Kilpatrick is reminded again.
The ex-mayor, housed in a federal prison outside of Oklahoma City, told U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow that he can't afford a lawyer to defend against a lawsuit in which the city's water department wants him to pay $19 million for his role in a sinkhole repair, Tresa Baldas of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The city claims Kilpatrick masterminded a corrupt contract that overbilled Detroit the city by $23 million to repair a Sterling Heights sinkhole on 15 Mile.
"After speaking to several attorneys, and even asking for referrals from attorneys that are currently representing me in other matters I have been unable to hire an attorney," Kilpatrick wrote in a letter that was filed April 20 in U.S. District Court, the Freep reports.
"I don't have the money to pay the requested attorney's fee, nor do I have anyone that I can ask for help in this effort . . . I must now respond to this motion myself, and therefore do the necessary research/work in preparing the motion, from here at FCI El Reno."
